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2nd Sunday before Lent - Stow Bedon 12/2/2023

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 15:28:57 GMT

2nd Sunday before Lent - Stow Bedon

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 2nd Sunday before Lent

Almighty God,

you have created the heavens and the earth

and made us in your own image:

teach us to discern your hand in all your works

and your likeness in all your children;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,

now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Genesis 1:1 – 2:3

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Romans 8: 18-25

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Matthew 6: 25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Homily:

Something I have been doing with some of the time I have now since leaving you all has been an afternoon a week art class. Now my history with art has been quite difficult. I can remember the art teacher at secondary school telling my mother on parents’ evenings that I made dogs’ dinners. Probably because of such humiliations as that I gave up art as a subject at the earliest opportunity. The fact was, however, that I did not dislike the subject until that happened. My defence is that I don’t remember being taught how to use paint properly. I can remember painting a picture and thinking: “I will just add a bit of blue there, or a dash of green there.” As the colours merged into one another I painted over what I had done with a different colour and somehow it always came out brown and messy. It’s not changed much either. For the past two weeks we have been learning how to use oil pastils and as I added colours and blended them, I just didn’t know when to stop. Now, the teacher and I have an arrangement that she tells me when it is finished and we rescue whatever the subject is before it goes an all over brown.

The creation story we read as our first reading today gives me the same sense of not being able to stop. I was tempted to shorten the reading as it is quite long but then I thought that it’s really important for us to hear the whole story of God creating the world. It has such a poetic form. And as we hear each new day being described we begin to hear how each new aspect whether it be animals and birds or plants is added in to an already beautiful world. After each day, God looks at what he has made and he loves it. He adds colours and dimensions like the perfect artist and then we can almost see him standing back and admiring what he has done. Maybe to put a longer nose on that creature and call it an elephant or to extend that one’s neck and call it a giraffe. Ridiculous in some cases but wonderful too.

At the culmination of his creation, God makes something entirely different. He makes mankind and we read that he makes people in his own image. There is something about a human being which reflects God. There is a spark within us all which is God. Then he gives the culmination of his creation a job to do: to look after the earth he made earlier. This week we have seen on the news the devastation caused by an earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The latest estimate is that 21,000 people have been killed. This last summer we saw the hottest temperatures on record in the UK. We know that our seasons are changing and our way of life is damaging the planet. We don’t appear to be doing the job God gave us to do.

In our second reading, the writer of Romans says that all of creation is groaning and suffering. It is waiting to be set free from all that human beings are doing to destroy it. The writer urges us to live in hope. Then he explains what this hope is. Hope is something which cannot be seen. If it could be seen, it would not be hope. We are urged to wait with patience until whatever we are waiting and praying for is revealed by God to us. Of course, it is not always easy to be patient. Instead we often behave as it says in St Matthew’s gospel: we worry and try to bring things about before the time appointed by God.

This is a very sensible reading actually. It says: “Don’t worry about your life”. There is no point. We cannot do anything about what happened in the past. That is over and done with. We cannot change the future by worrying. There is only ever the present moment. God knows what we need and will give us what we need – note: what we need, not what we want, when it is the right time. In Genesis, God told mankind to look after the earth. In St Matthew’s gospel: Jesus tells us to strive for the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Matthew is basically saying that our task is to take our minds off ourselves and what we want and concentrate on building up what gives life to our communities and our friends and neighbours. Last week, our gospel reading was about being salt and light in the world. We are here to provide a bit of seasoning when the world is bland, and shine a light in the dark corners of a world which finds evil and living only for yourself attractive. Jesus spent his time with sinners. Then he told his followers to do the same as he did. We have a responsibility for all the areas of our created world.

That passage about salt and light is very striking when you read it in the Message translation of the Bible. It says:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You are here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. ….. Here’s another way to put it. You are here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept.” (Matthew 5: 13-14).

When we are salt and light, we bring hope to our friends and those around us. If we begin to live as though we have hope in who we are as children of God, others will notice how we live our lives and will begin to live in the same way. That song which goes: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine” talks about the effects of each person lighting one tiny candle. As the number of lights grows, the brightness spreads and we can see more and we trip up less.

The New Testament, particularly Paul’s epistles gives us lists of the character traits we should build on if we wish to follow Christ. Paul also gives us lists of those sins that will only bring darkness both to ourselves and others.

As we grow in the faith, we will seek to bring more hope and life to others and show them more of God’s image within us.

Intercessions:

With confidence and trust, let us pray to the Father.

For the one holy and apostolic Church.

We pray for the Church in this nation and in this Diocese, remembering our Archbishops: Justin and Stephen and our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane.

Let us pray to the Father

Lord of compassion

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the mission of the Church,

that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel

to the ends of the earth.

For this church of St Botolph as it continues to provide a place of peace and prayer and serves as a witness to those who live in this parish. We give thanks for all those who have served this church in the past and we pray for Beryl and the PCC who make decisions about the way ahead.

We pray for our Benefice and group of churches, for our schools and Thorp House.

Let us pray to the Father:

Lord of compassion

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For those preparing for baptism at this time

and for their teachers and sponsors,

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For peace in the world, remembering the nations of the Ukraine and Russia

that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow

among all nations and peoples and also for Turkey and Syria after the earthquake this week.

We pray for areas of strife within our own nation where neighbours dispute with one another. We pray for our police, ambulance and fire services.

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer, particularly today we pray for …….

For all refugees, prisoners and those in danger;

that they may be relieved and protected.

We pray for all health service workers in our hospitals and GP practices.

We pray for all carers.

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For those we have injured or offended. We pray for anything we may have done to upset others and for a swift reconciliation with those who have upset us.

Let us pray to the Father:

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For grace to amend our lives and to further the reign of God wherever we live and wherever we go.

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

In communion with all those who have walked in the way of holiness and have now departed this life,

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God our creator

by your gift

the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise,

and the bread of life at the heart of your Church:

may we who have been nourished at your table on earth

be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross

and enjoy the delights of eternity;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Epiphany 3 - 22nd January 2023

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:35:23 GMT

Epiphany 3 - 22nd January 2023

Epiphany 3

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Epiphany 3

Almighty God,

whose Son revealed in signs and miracles

the wonders of your saving presence:

renew your people with your heavenly grace,

and in all our weakness

sustain us by your mighty power;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 9: 1-4

9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the

past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he

will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation

and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice

when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

1 Corinthians 1: 10-18

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that

all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions

among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers

and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels

among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I

follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of

Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so

no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the

household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone

else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with

wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the

message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are

being saved it is the power of God.

Matthew 4: 12-23

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to

Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake

in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet

Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.”

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of

heaven has come near. 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw

two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net

into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will

send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his

brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.

Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and

followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their

synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease

and sickness among the people.

Homily

Today, our Gospel passage from St Matthew is about the calling of the first 4

disciples: Peter, Andrew, James and John. I think this story has to be linked with

the Gospel from last week. There, we saw John the Baptist pointing out to his own

disciples that Jesus, who was walking by at the time, was the Messiah: the one all

of Israel was waiting for to deliver them from their oppression under the Romans.

And as he said that, one of his disciples decided that this was a defining moment

for him and he left John and started to follow Jesus. That was Andrew, whom the

church remembers as the first missionary because, after spending just a couple of

hours with Jesus, he went off to find his brother Simon and took him to Jesus. It

was Jesus at that moment who gave Simon the name of Peter: a new name for a

new way of life as a disciple.

Our gospel passage today tells of an occasion sometime after. We know that

because there is a reference back to Peter previously being called Simon. On this

occasion, the brothers were casting a net into the Sea of Galilee as Jesus walked

by and such was the power of what happened to them that they left what they

were doing and went with Jesus. Likewise, two other brothers: James and John:

also fishermen.

As I was preparing this, I found myself wondering what it was about these men

that made Jesus call them.

I have never been fishing but it strikes me when I watch people fishing that what

is required is a lot of patience. Much more patience than I would have in that

situation. Patience to watch and wait for a fish to bite. An ability to spend many

hours calmly concentrating on the best conditions and bait in order to land that

huge specimen we often see in the photos afterwards. In order to earn a living,

Peter, Andrew, James and John would have to go out night after night and

sometimes return with nothing.

Along with patience, the fishermen had to be extremely brave. The waters of the

Sea of Galilee were unpredictable and a storm could suddenly rise up without

warning. They could easily be drowned or their boats, and therefore their

livelihoods, destroyed. A life with Jesus would take much courage as they engaged

with him with the religious rulers of the day and preached a gospel of peace.

Ultimately, nearly all of Jesus’ disciples met untimely and brutal deaths because of

their faith. Jesus taught them that in his Kingdom the last would be first and

those who wanted to be first would be last. James and John learnt that the hard

way when they wanted special seats in Jesus’ Kingdom and Jesus told them that

those seats did not belong to them.

Jesus of course knew his 12 disciples through and through. He knew their gifts and

he knew their failings. Today we are looking at the call of Peter, Andrew, James

and John. Three of them: Peter, James and John became almost like an inner

circle. They were the ones chosen to accompany Jesus up the mountain and witness

his Transfiguration. They were the ones who were with Jesus when he raised

Jairus’ daughter from the dead. They were with Jesus in Gethsemane as he prayed

on the night of his arrest. Those three seem to have been specially prepared by

Jesus for leadership positions in the early church. What of Andrew? Andrew, as I

said earlier was the one who brought people to Jesus by explaining who Jesus was

and somehow knowing what was needed at the time. He brought Peter to Jesus.

Peter was the first disciple to confess who Jesus was publicly. He brought the

young boy who had 5 loaves and 2 fish to Jesus and Jesus performed a miracle in

front of 5000 people. When certain Greeks wanted to know about Jesus, they

approached Philip who then told Andrew who took them to Jesus. Jesus recognised

that Andrew had a deep faith and true knowledge of his mission and his role in the

early church would be different to that of other three.

I wonder what we can learn from the call of the first 4 disciples about our own

calling? Jesus says in St John’s gospel: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and

appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that

whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

That is a two-fold commission and I think that whoever we are, we can serve God in

those two ways and perhaps the emphasis will change at different times in our

lives. There is, first of all, how we can bear fruit. Our reading from Paul’s first

letter to the Corinthians today tells us that we should be in agreement and that

there should be no divisions amongst us. On Friday, the Church of England

published prayers and resources which could be used within a service of blessing

following Civil Partnerships or Marriages of same sex couples. These resources will

be discussed at General Synod in February. Instantly the divisions in the Church of

England over this have surfaced again, with those whose opinions have been formed

by literal acceptance of what it says in the Bible pitched against those who are in

same-sex relationships and believe that the church is not going far enough to

accept and include them.

Sadly this is not the only issue which divides us. It’s the one with the most to say

at this moment but the authority of women within church leadership still polarizes

many Christians. It is clear that we are far from the agreement that Paul asks for

and we probably will never get to that point. Our call in these days as Christians is

to agree or disagree with love and after searching our souls as to our motives and

where our beliefs come from. That can only happen when we try to love and accept

everyone. Then comes the second part of our commission. We are to ask God in

prayer for a solution to all of our church’s needs, our nation’s needs and our world’s

needs. We don’t need the courage of Peter, Andrew, James and John to do this.

We can do it however old or young we are. We are people who straggle two worlds:

one which struggles with any kind of unity and common good most of the time and

God’s Kingdom which we can bring into the world through our prayers.

Just like the early disciples, we have a role and a job to do and that role has never

been more needed than in these days.

Intercessions:

In peace, let us pray to Jesus our Lord who ever lives to make intercession for us.

Saviour of the world, be present in all places of suffering, violence and pain, and

bring hope even in the darkest night. Inspire us to continue your work of

reconciliation today. In our world we pray for areas of conflict and injustice and we

pray for all refugees and prisoners of conscience.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord of the Church, empower by your Spirit all Christian people and the work of

your church in every land. Give us grace to proclaim the gospel joyfully in word and

deed.

In this week of prayer for Christian Unity, we give thanks for our brothers and

sisters attending church in other Christian denominations. We pray that the things

that unite us may be greater than those things that divide us and that we would

draw closer together in our joint worship and service.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops. Give them an ever deepening

peace and a sense of your Presence.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, guide and enable all who lead and serve this

community and those on whom we depend for our daily needs.

We pray for this church of and all who serve here. We give thanks for all those

who have been a part of this congregation over the years. We pray for each of our

villages and our churches, for all places of work and homes. We pray that all those

in any kind of need may find help and support. We pray for our schools and the

residents and staff of Thorp House.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Great physician, Stretch out your hand to bring comfort, wholeness and peace to

all who suffer in body, mind or spirit. Fill us with compassion, that we may be

channels of your healing love. We pray for anyone we know who is ill or in need,

particularly today for……

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Conqueror of death, remember for good those whom we love but see no longer.

Help us to live this day in the sure and certain hope of your eternal victory.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection

of God.

Merciful Father,

Accept our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

Our Saviour Christ is the Prince of Peace

of the increase of his government and of peace

there shall be no end.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Almighty Father

whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world:

may your people,

Illumined by your word and sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory,

that he may be known, worshipped and

obeyed to the ends of the earth;

for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever, Amen

The Blessing:

Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory

and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Sunday: Christmas 2/Naming of Jesus - Sunday 1st January

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 15:35:49 GMT

The Naming of Jesus - Sunday 1st January 2023 (Stow Bedon)

Second Sunday after Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Second Sunday after Christmas

Almighty God

whose blessed Son was circumcised

in obedience to the law for our sake

and given the Name that is above every name:

give us grace faithfully to bear his Name,

to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit,

and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Numbers 6: 22-27

22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “‘“The LORD bless you

and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD turn his face toward you

and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them”

Galatians 4: 4-7

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Luke 2: 15-21

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Homily

Today we are thinking about the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus. It’s not that often that we think about this in church because the festival only occurs on 1st January, so it only comes around every few years. As I was preparing for this, I found myself digging into good old Google for information about Jewish naming and circumcision. Information in St Luke’s gospel is extremely short. We have just heard that the shepherds had left the stable after visiting Jesus, praising God for showing them the Christ-child. Eight days later, it was prescribed by Jewish law that every male child be circumcised and named. And so it was for Jesus. The ceremony itself would most probably have been carried out by Joseph at home. It was not so much a religious ceremony but a family one. Mary was considered impure for 40 days and so had to stay at home. Family members had to stay home too because of their contact with her. In a few weeks’ time, we will be thinking about Jesus being presented in the Temple in Jerusalem. That is the religious ceremony where offerings had to be made and the child dedicated to God. But today we are thinking about the ordinary Jewish family at home; Jesus’ name is officially announced to anyone from the family at the ceremony and Jesus becomes a Jew.

A name and a home. They are both the most important things which speak of our identity. Our first names are given to us by our parents and they often have special significance. Our surnames show where we have come from and who we belong to in a wider sense. Jesus would have likely been known as Jesus ben-Joseph. Jesus, son of Joseph. As we know, that wasn’t strictly true as Mary was a virgin when she conceived the Son of God. Jesus ben-Joseph was also probably said with a bit of tongue in cheek as everyone around knew that Joseph was not his biological father.

Right from the beginning, God had chosen to experience all that being human meant. He was born into poverty, homeless and with a large question mark over his parentage. Ever since Joseph had met the angel Gabriel in a dream, however, he had become the best earthly father he could to Jesus and had cared for Mary.

Assuming the name of Joseph for this Jewish baby meant that he took on that family’s history. We know from the Christmas story that Joseph was a descendant of King David. That’s why, when she’s just about to give birth, Mary has to travel to Bethlehem with her husband for a random census. Bethlehem was where David was born and their extended family was still living and so Mary and Joseph needed to be counted there. Jesus needed to be born in Bethlehem because hundreds of years earlier the prophet Micah had said that the Saviour of the world would be born there.

Micah 5: 2 says

“But you Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clan of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel”.

He goes on to describe this ruler:

“He will stand and shepherd his flock

in the strength of the Lord,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

and they will live securely, for then his greatness

will reach to the ends of the earth”

Jesus ben-Joseph took on the whole history of his earthly father on the day he was named. We know also that he took on much more than that. The name “Jesus” was actually quite common among the Hebrews. It has the same root as the name “Joshua.” Joshua in the Old Testament was the great leader of the people who followed on after Moses and led them into the Promised Land. He saved them from a life of wandering around in the wilderness. He was a great military leader who helped them to defeat the people already living in the land and conquer it for the people of God. “Jesus” was not a name originally given to this baby by his parents. It was the name that they were told to give the baby by the angel Gabriel – God’s chief messenger. Mary was told when Gabriel visited her and Joseph was told – again in a dream. It’s like God Himself wanted to make sure that everyone in this drama remembered who the baby was and would be. His identity would always be clear: every time Mary called him home for tea, every time Joseph showed him how to use the carpenter’s tools, every time they talked to their friends about him: “our boy Jesus” (the one who will save the world).

It was never just about Jesus ben Joseph’s family life however. When St Matthew talks about the name of Jesus, he writes:

“All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel’ which means ‘God with us.’ “ (Matthew 1: 22-23)

There we have the whole point of the story which we have been hearing over Christmas. “God is with us” Not God was with us or God will be with us. At that moment in time, in a tiny town, in Roman occupied Palestine: God was born. He could never understand fully what it was like to be human unless he took upon himself the time and the place elements of existence, but the name “Emmanuel” makes us all part of the story. These two names tell us how it will all pan out. “Jesus” is the One who will save his people then and now from those things which separate us from God because God desires to be with us eternally. He desires to be in relationship with us and to give us all an identity which is deeper than every human bond we have managed to forge in our own strength. He desires to form new families where He is the Head and we can feel loved and at home.

Intercessions:

Father of us all: we pray for the Christian church at this time. We pray for Christians all over the world and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops. In our Diocese we pray for our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for all Christian denominations: particularly for those who meet in this area: for greater unity and a renewed sense of mission to the people who live here. We pray for those involved in making decisions about the churches in the Breckland Deanery and how we will work together this year. We pray for this church dedicated to St Botolph and for our Benefice, giving thanks for all those who attended Christmas services, that they may continue to be blessed in their lives. We pray for all the activities which have taken place recently whether fundraising or worship that our influence in this area may grow and deepen.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Father of us all, we pray for our world and its leaders: for a greater sense of working for the good of all. We pray for all those still affected by the virus throughout the world, especially the poorest nations. We pray for nations at war particularly Russia and Ukraine. We pray for all refugees and those who are homeless and have to live on the streets. We pray for all agencies providing shelter and food, for all food banks and warm buildings schemes. We pray for our King and members of the royal family.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for our group of parishes and the villages that make up this Benefice. We pray for those within our villages suffering hardship, that they will be able to reach out for the support they need. We pray for our friends and neighbours and all we come into contact with that we might show God’s love wherever we go. We pray for our local schools, places of work, our farms and the local shops.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father we pray for those we know in need of God’s love and assurance at this time. For all those suffering the economic effects of high inflation. For those who have lost their livelihoods and those who need to make life-changing decisions. We pray for the sick and those who look after them and for the residents of Thorp House. We pray especially for…………

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we remember those from amongst our own families and friends who have departed this life and we pray that we may be joined with them in experiencing your Eternal Kingdom.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,

And his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

All praise to you,

Almighty God and Heavenly King,

who sent your Son into the world

to take our nature upon him

and to be born of a pure virgin:

grant that, as we are born again in him,

so he may continually dwell in us

and reign on earth as he reigns in heaven,

now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing:

Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one, things earthly and heavenly,

fill you with peace and goodwill

and make you partakers of the divine nature;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Second Sunday in Advent 4.12.22

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 11:34:26 GMT

Second Sunday in Advent - 4.12.2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Collect – 2nd Sunday in Advent

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power

and come among us,

and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness

we are grievously hindered

in running the race that is set before us,

your bountiful grace and mercy

may speedily help and deliver us;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honour and glory, now and for ever Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 11: 1-10

11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,

or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5 Righteousness will be his belt

and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,

the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;

and a little child will lead them.

7 The cow will feed with the bear,

their young will lie down together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,

and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

9 They will neither harm nor destroy

on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Romans 15: 4-13

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;

I will sing the praises of your name.”

10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;

let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations;

in him the Gentiles will hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3: 1-12

3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’”

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Homily:

This past week I was at Caston school, leading one of my half-termly assemblies and it was a gift as to the theme as it took place just two days after the start of Advent. Advent is a subject that you can interest children in quite easily because most of them have Advent candles or Advent calendars which give out chocolate every time they count down a day to Christmas. So, I said: “the word Advent is a Latin word which means ‘Coming’. So, who or what is coming?” And I had a little bet with myself as to what they would say, as last year I had conducted the same activity at Thompson school. And sure enough: the answer was “Santa” followed by “Father Christmas” (Is there a difference?) Then, as in Thompson, the teachers got a bit hot under the collar as they knew where the Vicar was trying to get to and one of them said: “you remember, we did this yesterday” and eventually someone told me that: “Jesus is coming”. They were then disappointed to hear that Tesco and all the other places which sell Advent calendars have it wrong in fact. Advent is not about counting down the days of December and getting a chocolate every day. It is a season which began and continues in the Church and begins 4 Sundays before Christmas – so somewhere in November – and ends with the greatest festival of the Church’s year: so, not counting down but counting up.

As we travel through Advent, we try not to get too carried away by the whole Christmas preparation thing because it is meant to be a time of reflection and preparing our hearts to receive the Son of God as a baby. I was struck by the enormity of that phrase as I typed it. Preparing to receive the Son of God as a baby.

Our Readings today very much pick up on this theme of preparation. Part of a prophecy given to Isaiah tells of someone being born who will change the whole world order. Someone who will usher in a time of peace where lions will lie down with lambs without killing them. Don’t we need someone who can bring peace to our world at this time? We even get a clue where this person will come from. He will be a “shoot from the stock of Jesse”. Jessie was the father of David, the great King of Israel and we know that Jesus was of his line through Joseph. So, Isaiah centuries before his birth, is prophesying about the coming of Jesus.

Also, today, we meet another character who is concerned with preparation. It seems a bit strange that in the run up to Christmas we have a reading from St Matthew about the adult John the Baptist because, also in this season, we will read about his miraculous birth, and we know that he was only a few months older than Jesus.

But today, we jump to meeting him for the first time: this rather odd character of the grown-up John the Baptist. He is in fact much more like one of the Old Testament prophets breathing fire and damnation on those who have wandered away from God and demanding they return. We first meet him as he emerges from the desert, dressed in just a camel’s skin. We imagine that he did not care that much for his personal appearance or hygiene, he had loftier things on his mind. His diet too was very restricted; he only ate locusts and wild honey. We believe he had taken something called a Nazarite vow.

That was a very strict vow made to God and involved letting his hair grow long, not drinking any kind of wine and isolating himself from the community, particularly not having anything to do with death and dead bodies. It is thought that Samson had taken a Nazarite vow and was given great physical strength as a result of his devotion.

So, John the Baptist was preparing himself in a very strict way both to receive from God and to minister on behalf of God. We don’t know anything about when and how John’s call from God came to him. It is likely that he knew about it for the whole of his life: told about who he would be by his parents. Their whole community would have obviously known that Elizabeth and Zechariah had always been praying for a baby but Elizabeth had never got pregnant. They would also know that immediately after Zechariah’s turn to be the priest in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem he had returned to them unable to speak after meeting God as he prayed for the people. Then Elizabeth became pregnant. Zechariah had been told by God that the baby Elizabeth was carrying would be the one chosen to prepare the way and the people for Jesus’ coming. Imagine Zechariah and Elizabeth sitting John down one day and telling him that this was the Call on his life.

Places and hearts were being prepared for the coming of the world’s Saviour. Hearts were being changed and lives turned upside down. Today we are keeping the second Sunday of Advent in our churches. As we move nearer to Christmas, there are many preparations which we need to make to ensure that our families and friends have presents and food and know that we love them. Practical preparations. There are also preparations which need to be made to ensure that our churches look beautiful and that we have a message that speaks to this time in our world so that the people who have been given to us by God know that He loves them.

These four weeks are also a time for us to make our own spiritual preparations to be ready to celebrate the birth of God’s Son. It’s a time for us to evaluate where we are spiritually: with God and how our relationships with our families and others are. It’s good for us to try and take a few minutes extra time out of all our practical preparations to sit quietly and reflect on how we are. Perhaps to read a Christian book or a book of the Bible. Our own preparations are as important as the preparations we will make for our own family Christmas. There’s a bumper sticker we see around at this time of the year, sometimes. It reads: “Jesus is the reason for the season”. Not as my little friend in school said: “Santa is coming”. Jesus is coming: to our churches and to us individually and is the point of our preparations.

Intercessions:

Come to your Church and people as Lord and Judge.

Help us to live in the light of your coming

and give us a longing for your kingdom.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our Prayer.

Come to your world as King of the nations.

We pray for those areas of our world where violence is common place and many flee their homes to escape greedy and cruel regimes. We remember the trouble spots of our world, particularly the nations of Russia and Ukraine.

We pray for areas of our own nation where there is poverty and many people are needing to rely on the good of others through foodbanks and school meals programmes.

We pray for our Prime Minister and government with decisions to be made to alleviate poverty and strengthen our unity with one another.

Before you rulers will stand in silence.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to your people with a message of victory and peace.

We pray for the Church in this parish of the Holy Cross and in our Benefice giving thanks for all those who sacrifice time, money and energy to provide places where others may come and seek peace.

We pray for the Church in the Breckland Deanery and for continued deliberations about the future of individual churches and clergy cover in this area.

We pray for our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane and particularly for Bishop Alan and his wife Pippa as they prepare for their retirement in April.

Give us victory over death, temptation and evil.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to us as Saviour and Comforter.

Today we pray for …..

We pray also for our relatives and friends who have passed into eternal life and we ask that we may too enter into that peace.

We pray for anyone known to us who needs our prayers at this time.

Break into our lives,

where we struggle with sickness and distress,

and set us free to serve you for ever.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to us from heaven, Lord Jesus,

with power and great glory.

Lift us up to meet you,

with all your saints and angels,

to live with you for ever.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

In the tender mercy of our God,

the dayspring from on high shall break upon us,

to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow

of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Father in heaven,

who sent your Son to redeem the world

and will send him again to be our Judge;

give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming

that, when he comes again,

we may be ready to greet him

with joyful love and firm faith,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

Christ the Son of Righteousness shine upon you,

scatter the darkness from before your path,

and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

All Saints Service

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 17:31:59 GMT

All Saints Service

*After today our services on-line will be a bit less frequent. We have enjoyed worshipping with you and hope that you will continue to check in and we will try to put on a service when we can.

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – All Saints Day

God of holiness,

your glory is proclaimed in every age:

as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,

inspire us to follow their example

with boldness and joy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings:

Daniel 7: 1-3, 15-18

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream. 2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

Ephesians 1: 11-23

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Luke 6: 20-31

“Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil,

because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,

for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now,

for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,

for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Homily:

Today we are celebrating the Feast of All Saints. All Saints Day is actually on 1st November which is Tuesday but this is the nearest Sunday. In fact, today we are beginning a season of remembering. Today, we remember those special people who lived their Christian lives in the fullest possible way. On Wednesday this week, you will remember at the All Souls service those ordinary but special to us people who have been influential in your own lives, giving you a godly example to follow. We remember such people as our parents and godparents. Others too, who maybe by their friendship or by being there at a particularly difficult time in our lives, made a difference to us.

On 5th November, we remember something totally different. It’s not a church festival this time but an excuse for fireworks, toffee apples and bonfires as we remember Guy Fawkes and his friends who were unsuccessful in their attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. If there is a serious side to remembering on 5th November, it is surely about knowing that attempts of terrorism will always be seized upon and the perpetrators punished accordingly. Then we move on after another week to remembering those who gave their lives to give us freedom in the two world wars and in many conflicts since. We remember on the 11th and on Remembrance Sunday by hearing the names of the fallen and spending two minutes in silence to acknowledge what they did for us.

Those who became saints were always very devout and at some point in their lives took the decision to live Christianity on the edge. They often went to extremes in the observance of their faith. One of my favourite saints is St Ignatius of Loyola. He was born into an affluent family in 1491 in the Basque region of Spain. As a young man, he loved nothing better than fighting for the hand of the current lady in his life and generally passing his time doing nothing very much of value to society. By 1521, he had become an officer in the Spanish army and fought in the battle of Pamplona where he was seriously injured by a cannon ball. He was stretchered home and lay in bed for the next year. It took so long mainly because he insisted on having his shattered legs re-set because he wanted to look good in fancy stockings. During that time, he realized that the heroes that he was so keen on imitating, gave him no real joy in his life but when he meditated on the stories of Jesus, he found a consolation which changed his whole outlook. When he recovered, he was determined to follow Jesus and often gave away even the possessions he needed for his own survival, he was so affected by God’s Spirit. Eventually he drew others around him and he began to develop what he is now most famous for: The Spiritual Exercises which are still used on long retreats. He was the founder of the Jesuits: a teaching and revolutionary Catholic Order which has been responsible for many changes to Catholic doctrine over the years. The present Pope is a Jesuit.

After these remarkable men and women who we commemorate today eventually all leave the rigours and sufferings they have endured in this life, they are received by God into their eternal rest and home. Our readings today concentrate on various accounts of what the next life will look like. It’s a life that is not just for the great saints we can read about. It’s the place we believe that our loved ones who have now departed this life have gone on to and where we will go because we are all present day saints. Of course, we won’t know fully what it is like until we get there but we can get some hints when we read Daniel’s vision and St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The readings tell us that it will be somewhere very beautiful: God will be with us in a more tangible way and there will be no more suffering because tears and pain are things of this life not the next. The saints had many experiences of being misunderstood and trying to live good Christian lives amongst people who openly berated and scorned them. We too are called to speak out for living a different kind of life and when we do, we are misunderstood. That won’t be a part of our next life. St Luke gives us an idea of the things we are called to do while we are here and those things we are not called to do and be. Those who suffer for the sake of the Gospel will be rewarded. Those who don’t think that the Gospel refers to them will not have a share in the riches of the next life.

Everything will one day be made new and those who have gone before us experience that now. We glimpse that eternal life here in our church services when we pray and praise God. When we decided to follow God, he gave us an eternal life which began at that moment and continues on through our earthly death and into whatever comes next. I don’t know who wrote this – it wasn’t me – but someone said: “we are citizens of this earth but our home is in heaven”. We can visit our heavenly home every time we pray and think about God. We can bring God’s presence into our everyday circumstances in order to change them for the good. The saints give us examples of how to live the Christian life. We too can be an example to others. Who knows but that we may have a saint in the making amongst us here!.

Intercessions:

United in the company of all the faithful

and looking for the coming of the Kingdom,

let us offer our prayers to God,

the source of all life and holiness.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Merciful Lord,

strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit,

that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation

to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

We pray for the work and witness of this church to the village of Great Hockham, giving thanks for all who have served in this place over many years and now enjoy eternal rest with God.

We pray for our Benefice and all who live within its boundaries. We pray today for the churchwardens as they take on extra responsibilities in the time of vacancy and for those whose job it is to appoint a new Incumbent.

At the end of this half term holiday, we pray for our schools and their teachers as they return.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Bless Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all ministers of our Church,

that by faithful proclamation of your word

we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets

into a holy Temple in the Lord.

We pray for the Breckland Deanery as we continue to look at how best to care for our churches. We pray for all clergy and lay ministers.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Give to the world and its peoples

the peace that comes from above,

that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Hold in your loving embrace all who witness to your love in the service of the poor and needy;

all who minister to the sick and dying

and all who bring light to those in darkness,

we pray for all those who look after sick and elderly relatives and friends.

We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin or disfigured by pain,

that raised from death to life in Christ,

their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.

Today we pray for ……

Along with them we pray for all those who are lonely and feel unloved and those who have no one to pray for them.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks

for the whole company of your saints in glory,

with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;

by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, through Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace to those who were far off and those who were near.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God, the source of all holiness and giver of all good things:

may we who have shared at this table

as strangers and pilgrims here on earth

be welcomed with all your saints

to the heavenly feast on the day of your kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

God, who has prepared for us a city with eternal foundations, give you grace to share the inheritance of the saints in glory ….

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Last Sunday after Trinity/Bible Sunday

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 16:18:10 GMT

Last Sunday after Trinity/Bible Sunday

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Bible Sunday

Blessed Lord,

who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:

help us so to hear them,

to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them

that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 45: 22-25

“Turn to me and be saved,

all you ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn,

my mouth has uttered in all integrity

a word that will not be revoked:

Before me every knee will bow;

by me every tongue will swear.

24 They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone

are deliverance and strength.’”

All who have raged against him

will come to him and be put to shame.

25 But all the descendants of Israel

will find deliverance in the LORD

and will make their boast in him.

Romans 15: 1-6

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 4: 16-24

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ 24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown”.

Homily:

Today is the 19th Sunday after Trinity, the final Sunday before we begin to celebrate other seasons of the Church’s year. The final Sunday of the Trinity season is the one where we think about the Bible. I don’t know about you but the Collect for today is just one of those which always sticks in my mind. I’ll just remind you of the words:

“Blessed Lord,

who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:

help us so to hear them,

to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them

that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life ……”

Mr Google informs me that there have been over 50 different translations of the Bible. Most of us will remember that the version we always heard in Church years ago was the King James: the one with the thee’s and thou’s and shouldests and wouldests. There have been many other translations since then, however. Some are direct translations of the original Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Greek, others are not direct translations but give a more general sense of the passages. These are mainly used and chosen for reading out loud or for personal study. The Bible is still the book that is purchased and read the most in the world today incredibly.

If we look at the alternative Collect for this morning, we see why we are instructed to read the Bible:

“teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,

that trusting in your word

and obeying your will

we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord”.

We can certainly say that we know what it’s like to live in a changing and uncertain world at the moment. A society where Prime Ministers last less than two months and no one seems to have a clear plan of how to help us out of our economic difficulties and lead us to a place where we feel secure. It is in our places of change and insecurity, however, that we can turn to our faith in God to sustain us.

As Christians we live with a foot in two different worlds. There is first of all: the here and now, where, for this present time, we are a part of this world which suffers whether it be from war and disaster or through an unstable economy. The Collect tells us that there are two things which will help us to rise above what is going on. One is that reading and trusting in the Word of God that says a better time will come one day and the other is doing the best we can in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Doing these two things brings a deep-seated joy which can cope with whatever the world throws at us.

In our Gospel today, we heard the account of Jesus going to his hometown of Nazareth and reading some words of the Prophet Isaiah. The prophet was actually speaking about the Call of God on his own life. The Holy Spirit of God had called him to make a difference to the world in which he was living by actively supporting those weaker than himself and giving them enthusiasm and encouragement to find hope in their lives. As Jesus read those words, he realized that was the same Call of God on his own life. Lived out in a somewhat different way, however. He was given power through the Spirit to heal the sick and proclaim release for those imprisoned for their crimes or by physical and mental illness. He was called to heal those who were blind and oppressed by their life circumstances. Same Call, different time in history. The word of God was what was urging Isaiah and Jesus into action.

And since then, Christians have read the same words, interpreted them in different ways and got on with the business of helping themselves and others to live in changing and uncertain times. Julian of Norwich was someone close to our hearts here in Norfolk. After having lived through the Black Death in the 14th century and herself recovered from an illness which her physician thought would kill her, she became an anchoress living alone apart from a cat and the servant who made her meals. She spent her time praying and giving advice to people as they walked past her cell. Her life was devoted to reading and learning from the Scriptures and praying so that others would be encouraged in their walk with God.

As well as helping people to live in this present age, the Word of God can help people to prepare for the next life. The Collect says:

“through patience and the comfort of your holy word,

We may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life”.

The New Testament tells us a lot about our eternal life: given to us when we became members of God’s family either through Baptism or personal renewal. The Book of Revelation is not an easy book to read but in a vision from God, St John was able to see and then write down what this life will be like. Jesus in St John’s Gospel tells us that after his Ascension into Heaven he will prepare a place for us to join him. It’s a reading we often have at funerals because it’s then we need to remember the hope we have been given both for own future and that of those we love.

Jesus says:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

As we read the Bible, we can find comfort both for this time in our lives and hope for the life to come.

Intercessions:

Our help comes from the Lord.

Let us pray to him now.

Loving Father, we pray for those

who teach prayer and Bible Study

at schools and colleges, retreat houses and conferences,

and in churches and homes all over the world.

We pray that many will find your words speaking into their situation

And providing the guidance they need.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all clergy in this Diocese as they study your Word and teach your people.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

We pray for all those in our world who live in places of conflict and danger.

We pray for the people of Ukraine and other troubled areas in our world.

We pray for those of our Christian brothers and sisters who are enduring persecution because of their faith.

We pray for the work of the Bible Society and other organisations who constantly choose to put their lives in danger when they take Bibles into countries where Christianity is forbidden.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

We pray for the grace to listen to one another

and respond to one another’s needs;

We pray for a spirit of cooperation and generosity in all the homes of this parish and benefice.

We pray for our friends and all whom we come into contact as we go about our daily lives.

We pray for our schools in Caston, Great Hockham and Thompson on Half Term holiday this coming week.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are wrestling with problems

which seem too big to cope with;

For those who are sick and waiting for medical interventions.

For those who struggle with mental and emotional health conditions who often feel misunderstood and uncared for.

For those who have no one to pray for them and no one to guide them.

We pray today for …….

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have recently departed this life, particularly Trevor William Mason.

We pray for his wife and family and all who mourn his passing.

And we pray that all those we have loved will rest in eternal peace and rise in everlasting glory.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Father, we thank you for your Word,

contained in Holy Scripture

and also learnt through the circumstances of our lives and the beauty of our world.

We pray that we may constantly live our lives in awareness of your actions in the

world and always thank and praise your name.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God of all grace,

your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry

with the bread of his life

and the word of his kingdom:

renew your people with your heavenly grace,

and in all our weakness

sustain us by your true and living bread;

who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Sunday 16th October

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 16:44:27 GMT

18th Sunday after Trinity (at Breckles)

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 18th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God,

increase in us your gift of faith

that, forsaking what lies behind

and reaching out to that which is before,

we may run the way of your commandments

and win the crown of everlasting joy;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Esther 8: 1-17

8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate. 3 Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king extended the gold sceptre to Esther and she arose and stood before him. 5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favour and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” 7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

11 The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. 12 The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 13 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. 15 When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honour. 17 In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Luke 18:1-8

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Homily:

Last week we left the wicked Haman going off to a banquet with Xerxes the King and Esther, his Queen. He had ordered his men to erect a gallows for Mordecai to be hanged on and life for him felt good. For Esther, the banquet was part of her scheme to get the King to save the Jews who were under threat. When she got to the banquet and had made sure Xerxes and Haman were well supplied with good food and drink, she made her request to the King. And it’s a bit of a strange request: the request was that they come back to a second banquet the next day and then she would give her request to the King. Of course, it was all part of the plan to relax everyone and make them less aware of what was happening. We know that the evil Haman was really enjoying being the only person selected to be with the King and Queen.

At the second banquet Esther explained to the King that her people had been given a death threat and needed his help. The King was outraged that Esther’s people had been threatened and he wanted to know who was responsible. When he discovered that it was his own officer: Haman, he was even more angry and had to go outside to cool off. Meanwhile, Haman begged Esther for forgiveness and for mercy and just as he was kneeling beside her, Xerxes returned and thought he was trying to seduce his wife. Haman was arrested and executed on the gallows he had set up for Mordecai. Justice!!

As the law ordering the execution of all Jews could not be changed (remember: the law of the Medes and Persians) Xerxes had to make a new law. He made it known throughout his Empire that all the Jews should have the right to prepare for attack on the day that it had already been decided that they would die. They were therefore able to prepare and could take their captors by surprise when they marched in. This happened and in all the cities of the Empire, the King’s governors actually helped the Jews to succeed in battle because they were afraid of Mordecai who by that time had been given Haman’s high office.

The Jews were jubilant and there was much celebration. And every year to this very time they hold the Feast of Purim to remember the day they were delivered from destruction. The feast lasts for two days. The first day is one of fasting and prayer to remember the way Esther and Mordecai waited on God for a solution. The second day, they all meet together and listen to the Book of Esther being read. They take along gifts of food and give food to the poor. They also dress up and usually wear masks so as to disguise their appearance. This is because God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther at all. He is disguised but very much present in the story and particularly in the deliverance.

God is often in disguise in the story of our lives. He can sometimes be seen at the end when we reflect back on what has happened. How we saw that person just at the right moment and something changed. How a situation which seemed hopeless was turned around and everyone was ok. In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a parable in order to persuade his hearers and followers to pray always and not lose heart. It would have been natural for Mordecai to lose heart when the law was passed to destroy the nation but, instead, he prayed and took stock of the situation. He knew that his niece was the best bet to help as she had become the Queen and had access to Xerxes. Mordecai recognized even though Esther didn’t, that God had placed her in that position and at that time in history to do something great. The persistent widow needed justice and she kept pestering the Judge until he gave her what she needed. We can pester God in the same way for what we need, for ourselves and our families, for our nation and our world. We are told not to give up because as we pray, our will gradually becomes aligned with God’s will and we begin to see what we should really be praying.

Sometimes God does not show Himself or His will when we pray about something. Let’s take the situation in Ukraine. We have been praying for an end to the war and for peace since the conflict started. Rather than it ceasing, it seems to be getting worse. Is God not listening as all the Christians are praying together? Is he not listening to the people of Ukraine themselves as they meet in secret, sing hymns and pray with bombs falling around them? Wouldn’t you think that God would be moved by those prayers? Why doesn’t He show Himself and act? The truth is that we don’t know. We know that He has promised to answer prayer when 2 or 3 are gathered together. As we pray, however, we may begin to see other aspects of the war. We see the refugees being re-homed in this and other countries. We see world opinion changing and aid being provided. We know that God walks through the worst of human situations comforting and loving. We know that He changes us, as we pray, into more compassionate and resilient people. He is disguised as those soldiers of both Russia and Ukraine who go out of their safe places to rescue a child or put out a fire. Little by little, He will show Himself in the lives of the President and his government and in us as we watch and wait. Sometimes we will recognize Him at work. At other times, we will not be so sure. But we know He is in control where people keep on praying and offering their lives in His service.

Intercessions:

Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world

and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,

in your providence and care

you watch over all creation;

we offer our prayers

that in us and in all your people your will may be done,

according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord,

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all through whom we receive food and life;

for farmers and agricultural workers especially those in our own Benefice,

praying for their safety and good weather to ensure a good harvest next year;

as you have so ordered life that we depend on each other,

enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,

and to produce abundant life among those who hunger

and whose lives are at risk.

Prosper the work of their hands

and the searching of their minds,

that their labour may be for the welfare of all.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all governments and aid agencies,

and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.

We continue to pray for Ukraine and other trouble spots in our world.

By the grace of your Spirit,

touch our hearts

and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,

and make us wise stewards of your gifts.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are ill,

remembering those in hospital and nursing homes

and all who are known to us, particularly ………

We pray for all who care for them.

Give skill and understanding

to all who work for their well-being.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died, and

those we entrust to your eternal love

in the hope of resurrection to new life.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We offer ourselves to your service,

asking that by the Spirit at work in us

others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

God of grace,

as you are ever at work in your creation,

to fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us

and in all for whom we pray,

that with them and in all that you have made,

your glory may be revealed

and the whole earth give praise to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

We praise and thank you, O Christ, for this sacred feast;

for here we receive you,

here the memory of your passion is renewed,

here our minds are filled with grace,

and here a pledge of future glory is given,

when we shall feast at that table where you reign

with all your saints for ever. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

17th Sunday after Trinity

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 20:57:39 GMT

17th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 17th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,

you have made us for yourself,

and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:

pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,

and so bring us at last to your heavenly city

where we shall see you face to face;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you ,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Esther 5:1-14

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the sceptre. 3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” 4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.” 5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.” So, the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favour and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfil my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.” 9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honoured him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

2 Timothy 2: 8-15

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Luke 17: 11-19

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Homily:

Last week, we left our story of Esther and King Xerxes where Esther and all her Jewish friends had decided to spend three days: fasting and praying. If you remember, they were in the midst of an awful situation. Haman, one of the King’s officials, had been to the King and deceived him into passing a law whereby all the Jews in the Persian Empire would be destroyed. Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, had asked Esther to intervene and try to save the nation by petitioning the King to try and stop the slaughter of their people. We don’t hear the full solution today. We will have to wait until next week for that, but today we begin to see what God asks Esther to do and how it affects the situation as it proceeds. So, let’s look at the two main characters in the chapter we have read today.

First of all, there is Haman and if we were at a pantomime just now, we would be giving a thumbs down and booing loudly. Haman is a thoroughly evil character. You will remember that all this started because the King had promoted Haman to the office of one of his chief advisers. And the whole thing had gone totally to Haman’s head. He commanded everyone to bow to him every time they saw him. Mordecai was not going to do that because he was a good Jew who only bowed to God. It was at this point that Mordecai was in fact outed as a Jew. He had kept the fact secret and told Esther also not to tell anyone. Haman was a very angry man and when Mordecai refused to bow to him, he thought up the plot to not only have Mordecai killed, which we might think was bad enough, but the whole Jewish race within the Empire. Today we learn more about Haman’s character. He is extremely proud and boasts constantly about his position. You know the saying: “pride goes before a fall”? Well, we have a good example of that here.

Esther’s plan was, first of all, to disarm her husband and Haman, so she invited them both to a banquet. As we know from the first week of our study of the book, Xerxes liked banquets – a lot. He let them run on for weeks at a time. So, he was pleased to be getting invited to a banquet given by Esther. And for Haman, it just fueled his sense of importance. He told his wife that only he along with the King has been invited to Esther’s banquet. And then she used the first banquet to invite them to another, the next day. Haman again was the only person going there with the King. So, at the news of the second banquet Haman considered his life and his position and said that the only thing wrong in his world at present was that Mordecai wouldn’t bow to him. His wife said: “well, have him hung on a pole and then you can go and enjoy yourself with him out of the way”.

There’s our first character and not a very pleasant one. Then we have Esther. We know from last week that Esther could be in quite a bit of danger and in fact could lose her life helping Mordecai and her people. No one is allowed to just go to the King and ask for an audience. They have to wait to be summoned by him. Esther, herself, had not seen the King for a month even though she was married to him. He had many other wives and so she may have considered that she should just keep her head down and wait until it was her turn again. However, she and the other Jews had just spent three days waiting on God and fasting and it had given her a new courage. She knew that she might die but her Empire-wide family was at stake if she did not act. We see the providence of God at work as she walked into the King’s presence and he extended his sceptre towards her: bidding her welcome. Her faithfulness had paid off. The King was delighted to accept her invitation to her banquet and he was so in love with her that he promised her up to half of his Kingdom if she just asked for it.

The choice before us is often whether to follow what we want to do or whether to, first of all, try to find out what God wants and then do it. Sometimes we see other people who are very caught up in their own views of who they are and how they think they deserve to be treated because of high office or who they have been born to be. We hear of film stars and musicians who are really not very nice people when we find out what goes on behind closed doors or we hear how they have treated their staff. We as followers of Jesus, however, are called to be different. Just as a stick of rock has Bridlington or Blackpool running through it from end to end, we are called to have the attributes of God running through us. Timothy says some quite hard things in our epistle for today:

He says:

“If we endure, we will also reign with him;

If we deny him, he will also deny us;

If we are faithless, he remains faithful-

For he cannot deny himself”.

As long as we try in our endeavours to serve and worship God, he will remain close to us and faithful to our attempts. If we give up, however, and start behaving like a present-day Haman with only thoughts for ourselves, God will not answer our prayers. We will need to show the kind of dedication which Esther and the other Jews showed by spending time fasting and praying for our future to be shown to us. God can and has saved his people: the Jews on many occasions. He can and has and does save us from ourselves when we turn back to him.

Intercessions:

Let us pray to God, the Lord of the Harvest,

that he will bring to fruition all that he desires for his creation.

Lord of creation,

we see that the fields are ripe for harvesting:

we pray for your Church and for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops

that it may be ready to gather fruit for eternal life.

We pray for the church in this village of Thompson and in our Benefice, giving thanks for God’s guiding and provision this year and since we came into being.

Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

You have created the universe by your eternal Word,

and have blessed humankind in giving us dominion over the earth:

we pray for the world,

that we may honour and share its resources,

and live in reverence for the creation

and in harmony with one another.

We pray for those countries where the harvest has failed this year and people are starving. We pray for those who have no food or homes because they are fleeing corrupt powers.

Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Your Son has promised that the Spirit will lead us into all truth;

we pray for the community in which you have set us,

for one another and for ourselves,

that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit

in love and joy and peace.

We thank you for all the activities in our villages as our lives all continue to get back to normal.

Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

You have given your people a rich land,

yet by sin we made a world of suffering and sorrow:

we pray for those who bear the weight of affliction,

that they may come to share the life of wholeness and plenty.

We pray today for ……..

Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Your Son Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection

and will reap the harvest of the departed at the end of time:

we pray that he will gather us all together

with those who have gone before

into the banquet of the age to come.

Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Source of all life

and giver of all that is good,

hear our prayers and grant us all that is in accordance with your will;

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord, we pray that your grace may

always precede and follow us,

and make us continually to be given to

all good works;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

16th Sunday after Trinity

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 05:00:00 GMT

16th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 16th Sunday after Trinity

O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear

the prayers of your people who call upon you;

and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do,

and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever Amen

Readings:

Esther 4: 5-17

5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

2 Timothy 1: 1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Luke 17: 5-10

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. 7 “Suppose one of you has a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Homily:

We are now in our fourth week of studying the Book of Esther. Esther: a young Jewish orphan has become Queen of Persia. We are told that she was beautiful and had a lovely character and that Xerxes the King was drawn to her out of all the young and beautiful girls who had been prepared for him. Esther was a Jew, but her Uncle Mordecai told her not to say anything about that as Jews were not really understood and even feared at that time. Last week we saw the trouble that Mordecai got himself in when he refused to bow down to Haman who had recently been appointed to high office in the King’s government. Haman’s anger was so strong that he went to the King and a law was passed that not just Mordecai but all Jews in the Persian Empire were to be destroyed and a date was set for that to take place.

Today our reading opens with Esther sending one of her servants out of the palace to find out why Mordecai is wearing sackcloth and ashes and obviously in mourning. Mordecai explained and told the servant to go back to Esther and plead with her to get the King to change the law. We know from our studies already that the laws of the Medes and Persian could not be changed once they were passed and now we see a new law. No one was allowed to enter the King’s presence unless they had been summoned. Those who did so were put to death unless the King extended his royal sceptre towards them and let them live.

Mordecai was a man who was faithful to God and knew that God’s plan did not include having all Jews destroyed. He knew that their best hope was his own niece whom the King loved. Esther was obviously a bit reluctant to risk her own life at first but then sent back a message asking Mordecai to get together all the Jews in the city and to fast and pray for three days to seek God on the way forward. She said that she and her attendants would all fast too and then she would go to the King whatever that would eventually mean for her. The verse that strikes me in this passage and that appears to propel Esther into action is Mordecai’s word to her:

“And who knows that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this”.

We have just witnessed in our nation a real desire on the part of millions of people to be a part of history. I was astounded to learn that 4 billion, yes 4 billion, people watched the Queen’s funeral on television. I don’t have a TV licence at the moment. I go through phases of watching TV and then watching other things. Even the BBC wanted us to be part of history. They waived the need for a licence for the period from the Queen’s death to after the funeral. I was on duty as Day Chaplain at Norwich Cathedral on the afternoon of the Queen’s funeral. The live stream attracted possibly a hundred people who wanted to watch with others. As the afternoon wore on, I was aware that there seemed to be more adults with babies and small children, even in baby carriers coming in. Then there were groups of teenagers walking around the building. Those babies and young children will not remember the occasion, but they will be told that they were there. This desire based on the life of one woman compelled thousands of people to want to queue for hours to spend a moment in her presence.

Its an interesting thought that we were all born for the time we live in because we have a job to do in this time. I spent many years believing that I was called back to ministry as a priest, but I was reluctant and very slow to do anything about it. It was in 2019 that I began to explore my vocation and do some training. I was two weeks into a church placement in Swaffham when a global pandemic sent us all into lockdown and closed all the churches. I had been ordained Deacon in St Paul’s Cathedral: amazing architecture, amazing music from the most talented organist, pomp and ceremony. I was ordained priest in Mattishall church with 10 guests all socially distanced and wearing face coverings with half the church furniture piled up and stacked in a corner. I have already spoken a lot about the death of Queen Eizabeth but it was the last thing I expected to leading churches through.

We were all born for this time. We are now, whatever our ages, living in a time of acute climate change. Within our nation we have just seen a new Prime Minister appointed and are beginning to see how she will govern. Within our families we have raised children and now have grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are watching how they develop and what they do with their lives. And all the time we choose whether to speak and act or whether to just wait and see. We have a responsibility in our day and age just as Esther did. Sometimes a word here or there will change a situation and if we don’t speak it, the task will either fall to someone else or will never happen.

As Christians, we also have a responsibility to speak out or do something differently. It’s always good to take time to think about our actions before we do them. Esther and her court and all the Jews waited on God by fasting and praying for three days before they came back together to decide on a plan. We are people of prayer. It’s in our Christian DNA. Sometimes it’s good to meet together with others to talk and pray through a situation that may be bothering us in our family, our work or wider. Jesus says: “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them”. There is added power in praying with others as we know from praying in church on Sundays.

We were all born for this time. Maybe not to save a nation but ….. you never know!

Intercessions:

Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world

and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,

in your providence and care

you watch over all creation;

we offer our prayers

that in us and in all your people your will may be done,

according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord,

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all through whom we receive food and life;

for farmers and agricultural workers especially those in our own Benefice,

for packers, distributors and company boards;

as you have so ordered life that we depend on each other,

enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,

and to produce abundant life among those who hunger

and whose lives are at risk.

Prosper the work of their hands

and the searching of their minds,

that their labour may be for the welfare of all.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all governments and aid agencies,

and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.

We continue to pray for Afghanistan.

By the grace of your Spirit,

touch our hearts

and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,

and make us wise stewards of your gifts.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are ill,

remembering those in hospital and nursing homes

and all who are known to us, particularly ………

We pray for all who care for them.

Give skill and understanding

to all who work for their well-being.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died,

whom we entrust to your eternal love

in the hope of resurrection to new life.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We offer ourselves to your service,

asking that by the Spirit at work in us

others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

God of grace,

as you are ever at work in your creation,

to fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us

and in all for whom we pray,

that with them and in all that you have made,

your glory may be revealed

and the whole earth give praise to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Almighty God,

you have taught us through your Son

that love is the fulfilling of the law:

grant that we may love you with our whole heart

and our neighbours as ourselves;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

15th Sunday after Trinity

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 10:23:24 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

15th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting :

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 15th Sunday after Trinity

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit

upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:

grant that your people may be fervent

in the fellowship of the gospel

that, always abiding in you,

they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;

through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Esther 3:1-11

3 After these events, King Xerxes honoured Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honour higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honour to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honour. 3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behaviour would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honour, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. 7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”

1 Timothy 6:6-19

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Luke 16: 19-31

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Homily:

For those of you who haven’t been to church for a couple of weeks, I will give you a brief recap on the Book of Esther which we are studying over this time of Harvest in our villages. In the 400s BC the Jews in Jerusalem were defeated by the Persians and taken off into exile to Persia. There they made the best of their time away from their homes and became successful businessmen. When they got an opportunity to go back home, many of them chose to stay because they were doing well for themselves. The book opens with King Xerxes holding a banquet and commanding that his wife Vashti leave the party she was hosting so that he could show her off to his guests. Vashti did not think this was a good idea, so she stayed where she was. Xerxes got angry and banished her forever from his Kingdom. So, we then see him searching out all the young and beautiful girls in the Kingdom in order to choose a new Queen. Esther, who the book is named after, was the adopted daughter of her cousin Mordecai and eventually she was chosen to be Queen.

The story opens today with the King appointing a rascal called Haman to a senior position in his government. Haman soon lets this new appointment go to his head and starts telling people that they have to bow in his presence. You will remember that Mordecai told Esther not to tell anyone that she was a Jew because even though the Jews were respected for what they had achieved in Persia, the Persians were very wary of them because they practiced what to them were strange religious acts and they knew that they were so close to one another that if they decided to rise up against the governing power they would be able to overthrow them. Mordecai and Esther, however, still practiced their faith at home and were always true to its teachings.

The first time that Haman and Mordecai met after Haman had said that everyone had to bow to him, Mordecai refused to bow. The first commandment states “you shall have no other god before me”. The Jews did not bow to anyone, particularly those who had kept them captive. We know that Mordecai used to go to the city gate every day to find out how Esther was doing in the King’s Hareem. The city gate was the place where the men all gossiped together and held a law court and made speeches. It was easy to find out what was going on in the Royal Palace and make sure Esther was safe. The men there kept saying to him: “you know, you need to obey Haman’s order to bow otherwise you will be in real trouble”. So, Mordecai told them why he would not bow. That he was a Jew and kept the commandments. Before long someone of course had told Haman that the reason why Mordecai did not bow was because of his religious views. Haman who we are beginning to realise was a man who was really fond of his own importance, decided in that moment that he would not only destroy Mordecai for this seemingly disrespect of his office but he would destroy all the Jews, wherever they were living in the lands around. He cemented this plan by choosing a date for the slaughter and persuading Xerxes that it was a good idea. As we learnt last week, a law once passed by the Medes and Persians could not be revoked. What was to be done? We learn more next week.

Timothy in his letter today says that if we are men (and women) of God, we are to shun love of earthly pleasures and pursue godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. There are occasions for all of us when we have to stand up for what we believe and challenge the injustice we see in our world and in our own circle. Christianity is not a passive religion. Our gospel today is one of the clearest indications of how we are to act towards one another and the dangers of not doing that. The Rich man just stepped over the beggar who was lying outside his gate. He saw him but he chose not to help. Mordecai was clear about where he stood in the matter of religious observance. He would not bow to another human being because he feared God’s judgement more than man’s. He did not retract his stance even when his whole nation was threatened.

We are to pursue something more longer lasting and more permanent than the world can give us. In the face of opposition, we need to be sure of what we are aligning ourselves with, then go for it. The test as to whether what we are standing up for is in line with God’s plan or not is to test what we propose to do against the New Testament. Paul often talks about the serious sins which are to be fought against. Gossip, lying, malice and wickedness are mentioned in Paul’s letters more than once. If we engage in these practices, then we are not building up a Christian community. We are tearing it down.

We see the battle between good and evil beginning to play out in the book of Esther. Haman was a man duped by love of power who then exerted his authority on those he was in charge of. Those people who did not give him the honour he imagined was due to him, became expendable and not only them but their families and friends and ultimately a whole nation. We have unfortunately seen that kind of evil in our not too distant history and we see it now in countries not that far away from us. Mordecai shows us the other side. The man who does not return evil for evil and until he is challenged, he goes about his life quietly observing his faith and caring for his family. When challenged, however, we don’t read of him lashing out or being offensive even though he could be excused for that. We read of him continuing to observe God’s word as quoted in the Scriptures. Like the Christian martyrs, he does not retract anything which would show others that he is not a true believer. He does as God commands his followers to do.

Intercessions:

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,

let us pray to the Father.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

you promised through your Son, Jesus Christ

to hear us when we pray in faith.

We pray for your Church worldwide, particularly in areas where it faces persecution, and for the Church here in Griston and all it does to serve and promote your mission. We pray for all the churches in this Benefice, for the churchwardens and members of the PCCs. We give thanks today for the harvest safely gathered in, for all those who work on the land and all who are involved in food production in order to bring food to our tables.

Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ,

that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,

live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our world and those areas where there is conflict and unrest. We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and all refugees fleeing that country. We pray for those whose crops have failed this year that they may be able to find enough food for their needs.

We pray for all those who hold positions of authority in national and local government and for all managers and leaders of businesses and in the professions. We pray for our Royal Family as they grieve the passing of our late Queen Elizabeth:

Bless and guide Charles our King; give wisdom to all in authority,

and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace;

that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for these villages and for our witness through our prayers and deeds to all who live within them. For the children and all who work in our schools and for the residents and staff of Thorp House.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,

that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all those in physical, emotional, mental or spiritual need. For those who never ask for the help they need. For all agencies working to alleviate suffering.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, especially …..

give them courage and hope in their troubles;

and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ, remembering our own loved ones who have departed this life.

According to your promises,

grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Peter and Paul and all your saints,

We commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy;

and, because without you our human failty cannot but fall,

keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful,

and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

14th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 15:03:34 GMT

14th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 14th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,

whose only Son has opened for us

a new and living way into your presence:

give us pure hearts and steadfast wills

to worship you in spirit and in truth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Esther 2: 5-11, 17-18

5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. 7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. 8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favour. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favour and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave

a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.

1 Timothy 2:1-7

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

Luke 16: 1-13

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Homily:

Last week we saw our hereditary system of Royal Succession as King Charles became King on the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth the Second. He was proclaimed to the Nations and the Commonwealth publicly the very next day. In our Old Testament reading today, we have a very different system for finding a new Queen. For a start, the old Queen had not died. Last week we read that Xerxes, King of Babylon or present day Iran or Persia, had summoned his wife Vashti to join him at a banquet he was giving for all his nobles and officials. Apparently, it was very common when the military fighting season was over for the King to relieve the inevitable boredom by giving a banquet which lasted 7 days. That was immediately after he had displayed the whole of his vast wealth for folk to come and look at: for three months. He was a bit of a show-off I think. At the end of the seven days of the banquet, he and everyone else had had a few drinks and he so wanted to show off his beautiful wife. Vashti, unfortunately for her, was holding her own banquet and chose to ignore her husband and not attend. Such was Xerxes’ anger that she would not leave her friends and come to him that he took the advice of his counsellors and made an edict that Vashti should not come into his presence ever again and she would no longer be Queen. A bit harsh, we might say, but you have probably heard the phrase: “according to the laws of the Medes and Persians”. Well, here are the Persians and once a law was passed, it could not be revoked. When Xerxes had sobered up and calmed down, he had to accept that the law had been passed and Vashti was no longer Queen.

The search was then on for a new Queen. Today we read of how all the beautiful and eligible virgins were summoned to the King’s hareem and there began preparations for their presentation to the King. We read that they had special beauty treatments for a year. Amongst them, there was a young girl called Esther. As I mentioned last week: for the next few weeks we are looking at the Book of Esther in our sermons. We learn a few things about Esther today. First of all, she was an orphan. We don’t know the circumstances of that, but we know that her cousin whose name was Mordecai had looked after her since her parents’ death. We are told that as a young woman she had a lovely figure and was beautiful. She clearly had a good nature too as, before long, she came to the notice of Hegai who was in charge of finding the new Queen and he moved her up to the most important position.

What we also learn is that Esther and Mordecai were Jews living in the city of Susa. Mordecai was of the tribe of Benjamin which was one of the tribes of people defeated by the Babylonians and taken into exile from their homes in Judah to Babylon. This was around 400 years before Jesus’ birth. Whilst there, they became very successful as businessmen and did well in their ability to relate to their captors. Eventually many took the opportunity to go home to Judah, but many others stayed in order to keep the jobs they had worked so hard to build up. Obviously, Mordecai was one of those Jews who stayed. We may wonder whether he began to plan the possibility of a sharp upturn in his wealth and status if his cousin became Queen so that was why he got her into the palace.

He told her not to tell anyone that she was Jewish because even though the Jews were encouraged because of their abilities and successes in business, their religious practices and strong family ties were not really understood and the Babylonians were afraid they might revolt. We see Mordecai’s protection of his cousin as she continues in the King’s harem. Every day, he walked through the courtyard and made sure she was ok. Eventually at the end of the preparation time, Esther won the King’s favour and became the new Queen. King Xerxes, as we would expect, threw another long banquet to celebrate.

The scene is set. We have a simple Jewish girl, an orphan who is raised to a position of power. It reminds me a bit of the words of the Magnificat: prayed by another just normal Jewish girl who has been told she will be the mother of the Saviour of the world. Mary prayed:

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones

But has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

But has sent the rich away empty.”

We see throughout the Bible, God using the poor and insignificant in his major plans. We only have to look at Jesus’ disciples. Peter the fisherman was given the keys to the kingdom. Matthew was a hated tax collector, Mary Magdalene was a prostitute.

I am prepared to bet that most of us can recall just ordinary circumstances in our lives which God used for something good. Esther is one of only two books in the Old Testament where God is not mentioned by name but as we will see, He is present throughout everything that happens. In our nation in these days we can see that too. The events of the last week and a bit where we have seen just ordinary people wanting to experience some kind of closeness to her late Majesty, even prepared to queue for 9 hours or more to spend a minute in the presence of her earthly body have to have an effect on our nation as we move forward. We will not be the same as we move into King Charles’ reign and we don’t know as yet how we will be changed. Only time will tell. There is a line in a hymn which I’m sure you know. It goes:

“God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year.”

We don’t know God’s ultimate purpose for us and the world but we do know that He is always active. We only have to look at our changing seasons to see that.

Esther has reached the place she needs to be to take part in God’s plan for her nation. We will see more next week!

Intercessions:

Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world

and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,

in your providence and care

you watch over all creation;

we offer our prayers

that in us and in all your people your will may be done,

according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord,

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all through whom we receive food and life;

for farmers and agricultural workers especially those in our own Benefice,

for packers, distributors and company boards;

as you have so ordered life that we depend on each other,

enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,

and to produce abundant life among those who hunger

and whose lives are at risk.

Prosper the work of their hands

and the searching of their minds,

that their labour may be for the welfare of all.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all governments and aid agencies,

and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.

We continue to pray for Ukraine.

By the grace of your Spirit,

touch our hearts

and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,

and make us wise stewards of your gifts.

We pray for our new King: Charles and our new Prime Minister.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are ill,

remembering those in hospital and nursing homes

and all who are known to us, particularly ………

We pray for all who care for them.

Give skill and understanding

to all who work for their well-being.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died,

whom we entrust to your eternal love

in the hope of resurrection to new life.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We offer ourselves to your service,

asking that by the Spirit at work in us

others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

God of grace,

as you are ever at work in your creation,

to fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us

and in all for whom we pray,

that with them and in all that you have made,

your glory may be revealed

and the whole earth give praise to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord God, the source of truth and love,

keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,

united in prayer and the breaking of bread,

and one in joy and simplicity of heart,

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

13th Sunday after Trinity

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 11:51:24 GMT

13th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The photo shows our remarkable Queen Elizabeth !! beside the home she always loved amongst us at Sandringham.

The Bishop of Norwich tweeted on Thursday:

“Prayers from all of us in the Diocese of Norwich for HM The Queen, her family and those caring for her at Balmoral. May she be surrounded by the scent of heather in bloom and the sound of peaty waters of the Highlands, as she is held at this time in God’s strong and gentle hands.”

And then later in the afternoon:

“The news of the death of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, brings immense sadness to our nation and particularly to the Diocese of Norwich for which she always had great affection. Our thought and prayers are with His Majesty the King and the whole of the Royal Family”.

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 13th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,

Who called your Church to bear witness

that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:

help us to proclaim the good news of your love,

that all who hear it may be drawn to you;

through him who was lifted up on the cross,

and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Esther 1:1-3, 2: 2-4

This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

1Timothy 1: 12-17

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 15: 1-10

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Homily:

Homily Trinity 13

People say that like 9/11, the anniversary of which is actually today, and the Assassination of President Kennedy, we will remember where we were last Thursday when we heard that our beloved Queen Elizabeth had died peacefully at Balmoral. I was having a bit of a chaotic afternoon. When there was an announcement which broke into the TV programmes that she was being monitored by her doctors and that all the senior members of her family were on their way to be with her: my first task was to find the 20 pages of instructions about flags being flown and bells being tolled which the Bishop of Norwich had put together and we had been told about in June. I knew it was serious because the Bishop emailed again on Thursday reminding us that we should find the instructions and read them. Then I had a dilemma. Our on-line service needs this homily by Thursday afternoon at the latest. What should I write about an ill Queen who may have died by the time the folks read it on Sunday. Well, I did not have long to wait and the prayers I had put on-line were easily changed.

So, what do I say about our late Queen today? It’s not that long since her Platinum Jubilee when we saw all the old newsreels and heard all the comments from people who allegedly knew her personally. And if we did not watch or read them then, we certainly can do so now. The TV companies have had this schedule tucked away for years because the lady of 96 clearly could not go on much longer even with her personal doctors and staff. And I’ve read beautiful poetry written for her and tributes to her sense of loyalty and duty. I have watched as all the palace grounds have filled up with flowers and people have begun to assemble in London just to be a part of the National feeling.

I want to share something our late Queen said which I had not read before. She said it when she was looking back at the time when she was told that her father King George the Sixth had died and she had become Queen. She said:

“It was all a very sudden kind of taking on and making the best job you can.”

As we all know Elizabeth was not born to be Queen. She became heir to the throne at the age of 10 when her uncle abdicated. Children of 10 sometimes know what they want to do with their lives. I wonder what Elizabeth thought she would do. We have heard how she used to have toy horses and line would line them all up at night and care for them. We know that even as Queen she loved nothing better than visiting her stables and following the progress of racehorses she had bred. She also loved her dogs. But when she became Queen, she realized the Call on her life which was to last until well after retirement age. Wherever she stayed she had to read and sign papers from her red box. Maybe she had done that last Thursday.

The Call is not always what we want. Her uncle didn’t want it and he gave up the throne in order to marry the woman he loved. History will tell us more, but he did not appear to be very happy after his abdication. If the Call comes from God and we ignore it, we probably won’t be very happy. Much has been said about Elizabeth’s faith in God. She talked of how the Life and Teachings of Jesus inspired and comforted her more and more as she got older. She always seemed happy and contented when she was meeting people or being part of some great ceremonial occasion. The final picture we have of her is at the swearing in of Liz Truss on Tuesday. It is a statement of who she was that she could do that task within less than two days of her death. What courage and determination it must have taken.

If our dear Queen had not died, I would have been speaking about the book of Esther; which is our sermon series for the next 6 weeks. Esther was used by God to rescue her whole nation. There was a Call on her life. At times it was not an easy Call. Her own life was in danger and she had to lay aside a lot of what she believed and her very identity. But she knew that the Call had been given to her and she could not ignore it.

God places a call on all our lives if we have professed our belief in Him. In the book of Jeremiah, we read: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”. God was there at our very beginning and chose our family and our home because he had a job for us to do. Later in Jeremiah, we read: “I know the plans I have for you”. Our call may not seem very exciting. Its not about being a reigning monarch. It may be about being a good mother or a clever lawyer. The secret that Queen Elizabeth learnt was that whatever the Call is, we have to do it to the best of our ability, for as long as God Calls us to it and make it look as though there is nothing in the world we would rather do. Then we begin to attract others to how we do it and they start to follow their Call in the same way. After 96 years, our Queen leaves behind millions of people who have watched her and listened to her and if only a few of them choose to emulate her, our world will be a much better place.

We thank God for her and pray for her family at this time.

Intercessions:

As our bodies constantly breathe,

may the Church, the body of Christ,

constantly pray,

breathing God’s life into all its members and activities.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and the Anglican Communion throughout the world. We pray for this Church of the Holy Cross and for all those who work to keep it clean and repaired for us and for the generations to come: for their imagination and creativity and for strength to go on in the face of opposition.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the new week begins in our world,

may wrong priorities be challenged and adjusted,

may our societies reflect God’s concern

for righteousness, true justice and love,

and may all leaders grow in humility,

attentive to the needs of those they serve.

We pray for all displaced people within our world and for aid agencies working to support them.

We pray for our troubled world and the war still raging between Russia and Ukraine, that peace may be restored.

We pray for all the leaders of this nation and for our own MPs. We pray for Liz Truss as she takes office as Prime Minister. We pray that good decisions can now be made, after the delays caused by summer recess and the elections, about the rising costs of food and fuel

We pray for the farms and all who work on the land within our Benefice.

We pray for our schools as they settle in to the new term. For children just beginning and those who have gone on to secondary education this term.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer,

As we call to mind our loved ones,

all who depend on us,

and those on whom we depend,

all with whom we laugh, cry, work or play;

cleanse and refresh our relationships

and give us greater love, understanding and forgiveness.

We pray for all those we meet when we shop, travel and go about our everyday lives.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We think of those who are in prison,

locked in cells or depression or disabled bodies;

we think of those in hospital wards and treatment centres,

those unable to reach medical help

and those on long waiting lists for operations,

as we think of them all, we pray for them all.

And today we pray for ……..

Lord, in your mercy , hear our prayer.

We remember the dying and those who love and care for them;

We remember those whose earthly life has come or is coming to an end,

and we commend them to God’s undying love particularly Daisy Stretton and Margaret Joan Vincent.

We remember with much love our late Queen Elizabeth and pray for her soul as she is now with the Lord she has always served and always loved. We thank you for sending to us a true Christian Servant who always pointed us to You and a better way of life. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

With love in our hearts

for God our Maker and Redeemer,

we choose to walk in his ways

through this day and all our days.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God our creator,

you feed your children with the true manna.

the living bread from heaven:

let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage

until we come to that place where hunger and thirst are no more;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Trinity 12 - Sunday 3rd September

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 19:04:16 GMT

Trinity 12, Sunday 3rd September

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 12th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God,

you are always more ready to hear than we to pray

and to give more than either we desire or deserve:

pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,

forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid

and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask

but through the merits and mediation

of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Jeremiah 18: 1-11

18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

11 “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.

Philemon: 1-21

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. 8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Luke 14: 25-33

25 Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Homily:

When I was clearing out my parents’ home after my Mother died, I came across letters written by my Father to my Mother when he was away at sea during the war. Even though I was reading what my own Father had written, there was a sense that I was stepping into a private life that only they shared and that I was not really entitled to do that. We get a bit of the same sense in our New Testament reading which is from one of Paul’s private letters: to Philemon. In fact, we read the whole of that letter – just 21 verses. It is the only surviving private letter we have of Paul’s. We have many of his letters to newly founded Christian churches which he sent as he went about his missionary journeys. At the beginning of those, Paul usually describes himself as “an apostle of Christ”. In the letter to Philemon he chooses to cast aside that official title and he refers to himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus”. He was at the time under house arrest, constantly shackled to a guard, in Rome. He probably knew that he would not be leaving that place alive and as it turned out he was executed there.

The letter is to a friend in Colossae: Philemon and concerns one of Philemon’s slaves: Onesimus. who has been with Paul for some time. Paul was clearly very fond of Onesimus as he describes him as “my child, whose father I have become during my imprisonment”. The circumstances of how Onesimus came to be in Rome caring for Paul are not clear but what does seem to be clear is that there was some sort of incident at Philemon’s home and Onesimus ran away. Maybe he damaged some of Philemon’s property or stole it because we read that Paul offers to pay for whatever damage has been caused. It would seem to be a coincidence that Onesimus ends up caring for Paul who knows his Master. Maybe it was when they realized their connection that Onesimus confessed to being a runaway.

Paul knew that Onesimus had to go back, however. In those days apparently there were 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. It would therefore be difficult to imagine life without the slave workforce. They had to be very carefully monitored because if that many people decided to revolt against the Roman Empire, they could easily overthrow it. So, slaves were literally owned by their Master. One Roman writer says: “the Master can box their ears or condemn them to hard labour – making them, for instance, work in chains upon his lands in the country, or in a sort of prison-factory. Or, he may punish them with blows of the rod, the lash or the knot; he can brand them upon the forehead, if they are thieves or runaways, or, in the end, if they prove irreclaimable, he can crucify them.” Onesimus’ future did not look too bright.

So, Paul wrote this letter for him to take back home. It is interesting to note that this is not a letter which condemns slavery and asks Philemon to set Onesimus free. We would perhaps think that as both Paul and Philemon are Christians this would be the opportunity to behave in a more Christian way. Down the ages of course many Christians notably William Wilberforce did fight and gain a lot of ground against slavery but Paul obviously decided to work within the system as changing it would have been impossible at that time. Paul appeals to Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother in Christ. He does not pull any punches. He says that Onesimus was useless as a slave but he had become useful to Paul and would be useful to Philemon if he took him back and used his gifts in his service. He urges Onesimus to welcome him back, still a slave, but treated in the way that Christians are commanded to treat one another.

This letter gives us an example of how we as Christians are called to treat our fellow human beings. The love that we are told to show means that we will always look for an opportunity to restore the relationships which have gone wrong rather than keeping up the resentment which can build amongst us. The reading from Jeremiah today talks of God as a Potter who is constantly re-shaping the pots which he is making. As we move through life, we are faced with many challenges and they are there to help us to become better and more mature human beings. God is shaving off a bit here and reshaping a bit there so that the next time we meet that particular challenge we will deal with it with a little more love and a little less anger. We are all on a journey of shaping and re-shaping. Those pots which get put on the shelf and not re-shaped will collect dust and not be suitable for sale. God, the Potter, helps us to grow into pots which are strong to face everything which we have to face. He smooths out the cracks which could cause us to break and be of no further use.

We don’t know what happened when Onesimus arrived home to face up to his Master and what he had done. We can only hope that Philemon had taken Paul’s letter to heart and welcomed home a brother in Christ whom he could then love as he had loved Paul.

Intercessions:

We have chosen to serve the Lord.

Let us pray to him now.

We pray for those whose faith

is being challenged or undermined

by inner doubts or outside influences.

We give thanks for those who were strong influences in our lives and

all those who continue to build up our faith.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops

and all who strive to proclaim the Gospel

in language that people understand.

We pray for all Christian missionaries and Bible translators.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for our torn and fragmented world,

And those working for peace amidst those who work for power.

We pray for the people of Afghanistan, Russia and Ukraine and all other areas of unrest:

that many may have the courage to walk God’s way.

We pray for this church dedicated to St Margaret, giving thanks for all who have served and continue to serve God here.

We pray for this Benefice and all we try to do in cooperation to further God’s Kingdom. We pray for our schools returning after the summer break this week.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our loved ones;

for those who give us encouragement day by day.

For those we meet or work with whom we warm to

and those with whom there are frequent misunderstandings.

We thank God for our opportunities of forgiveness.

We pray for our neighbours.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who are marginalized,

Scorned or rejected.

For those isolated through illness or imprisonment

And for those who feel that no one understands.

Surround them all with such love

that they may know they are precious to you.

We pray for the residents and staff of Thorp House and for …….

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those approaching death,

that through our prayers they may know themselves

accompanied with love on that journey.

We pray for those who have died

that they may come to know the full joy of heaven.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We thank you, Holy God,

for making yourself known to us,

both in daily living

and in church, in the breaking of bread.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God of all mercy,

in this eucharist you have set aside our sins

and given us your healing:

grant that we who are made whole in Christ

may bring that healing to this broken world,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

11th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 08:50:27 GMT

11th Sunday after Trinity 29.8.2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 11th Sunday after Trinity

O God, you declare your Almighty power

most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:

mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace,

that we, running the way of your commandments,

may receive your gracious promises,

and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Jeremiah 2: 4-13

Hear the word of the LORD, you descendants of Jacob,

all you clans of Israel.

5 This is what the LORD says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me,

that they strayed so far from me?

They followed worthless idols

and became worthless themselves.

6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD,

who brought us up out of Egypt

and led us through the barren wilderness,

through a land of deserts and ravines,

a land of drought and utter darkness,

a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

7 I brought you into a fertile land

to eat its fruit and rich produce.

But you came and defiled my land

and made my inheritance detestable.

8 The priests did not ask,

‘Where is the LORD?’

Those who deal with the law did not know me;

the leaders rebelled against me.

The prophets prophesied by Baal,

following worthless idols.

9 “Therefore I bring charges against you again,”

declares the LORD.

“And I will bring charges against your children’s children.

10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look,

send to Kedar and observe closely;

see if there has ever been anything like this:

11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?

(Yet they are not gods at all.)

But my people have exchanged their glorious God

for worthless idols.

12 Be appalled at this, you heavens,

and shudder with great horror,”

declares the LORD.

13 “My people have committed two sins:

They have forsaken me,

the spring of living water,

and have dug their own cisterns,

broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Hebrews 13: 1-8, 15, 16

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. 4 Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?” 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today. 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Luke 14: 1, 7-14

14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honoured in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Homily:

Our gospel passage from St Luke this morning follows on from last week’s when Jesus was criticized for healing someone on the Sabbath. Today we have another Sabbath incident. Jesus has been invited for a meal at the home of one of the Pharisees on the Sabbath. Jesus must have thought it a good chance to say more about true and false religion. We are told that as the various people entered, they began to choose the best places first; the places of honour. We are not told where those places were but, for example, if Jesus was the important guest they would be wanting to sit near him. Or maybe they wanted to be near someone else who was thought to be important in the room or near the Pharisee who was the host.

These days when we are invited to wedding receptions, there is a seating plan near the door and we all jostle to get a look at it to see where the bride and groom want us to sit. They have already done the work of not putting Aunty Mary next to her son-in-law because they don’t get on and we want everything at a wedding to be joyous and as uncomplicated as possible. Can you just imagine the situation that Jesus is talking about in his parable? Someone has been invited to a wedding banquet and as soon as they arrive, they go to our equivalent of the top table and take the most important seat. Unfortunately, they have sat in the bridegroom’s father’s seat and its very embarrassing when the master of ceremonies has to go to them and tell them to move to a different one. You can imagine them trying to be invisible as they move to a seat further away from the top table and trying to make it look as if they were meant to be there all the time. Then Jesus adds that a much better idea is to deliberately take an inconspicuous seat and if we are worthy of better, the host will escort us to a place of more honour.

Jesus concludes with a statement which does not win him any friends amongst those religious leaders. He says: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted”. The Pharisees believed themselves to be those to whom all respect and honour was due. They were the ones who spent their whole lives studying religious laws and practices. No other work was expected of them. Their office had been honoured by others and they behaved as ones who deserved respect. They were paid to study and meet with other wise men to discuss all the minute details of the law. As Jesus watched them trying to get the best place, he introduced his own view of power and leadership: the first shall be last and the last shall be first. This is what the Church now calls “Servant Leadership”.

When Jesus was at supper with his disciples on the night before he died, he demonstrated very forcefully the concept of servant leadership. Usually when men assembled together for a meal with their Rabbi, which is what happened at the Last Supper, a young servant of the household would meet them at the door and wash their feet. Feet were extremely dirty in those days in Palestine. Folk wore sandals which were in fact just a piece of leather tied to their feet. You can imagine what they walked through and of course, all travel was on foot. So, the servant boy would bring his bowl and towel and wash and dry each person’s feet. We don’t know why this hadn’t happened earlier at the Last Supper but we are told that part way through the meal, Jesus himself got up and washed his disciples’ feet just a s the lowly servant boy would have done and then he put the bowl and towel down and returned to his seat. Jesus was always a very visual speaker. He talked about seeds and fish and weddings. I imagine him just looking out at what was happening around and using it to emphasise a point. And as Peter was looking at John and wondering what was happening amongst them: Jesus said: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13: 14-15). The footwashing is only recorded in St John’s gospel. St Luke records a dispute breaking out amongst the disciples about who is the greatest. It may be that Jesus decided to show them about greatness in response to their squabbling.

We have heard quite a lot about hospitality in our readings today. In the Letter to the Hebrews, the writer urges Christians to show hospitality to strangers, to those in prison and to those who are being or have been tortured. We are urged to do that, not in some kind of token way but, as though it is us who is in need. The kind of compassion which is required is that of acting out of how we would want others to treat us if we were in that position. Hospitality is more than inviting someone for a meal. In fact, Jesus has something to say about that too. He says that true hospitality is not about inviting our friends who will invite us back, lovely though that is, but inviting the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. He means those who cannot invite us back because of their life situations. Hospitality is about how we treat others. It’s about an attitude of mind and heart. We can be hospitable people. In fact, we are called to be hospitable people, without ever holding a banquet or taking someone out for a meal. Hospitality is about how open we are to others and how we treat them. It is about all others: those we meet at the supermarket, those we see on charity adverts asking for help, those we just cannot get on with and of course: our families and friends. We are required to have and grow a servant heart that puts others before ourselves, always not just on good days.

Intercessions:

Let us pray to God our Father,

knowing that we are precious to him.

Father, we thank you for all those

who give to support the work of the Church;

bless our giving, guide our spending,

and help us to value the true wealth

of your abundant love.

We pray for this church and the village of Thompson, giving thanks for all through the ages who have served and continue to serve.

We pray for the whole of this Benefice in this part of Breckland. We ask you to bless everyone

who lives within our boundaries.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

We pray for the world’s economy;

for fair management and distribution of resources;

for fair trade and just wages;

for greater awareness and concern about injustice;

for a commitment to our responsibilities

as sharers of the same planet.

We pray for our world’s leaders, particularly in those areas where there is violence or natural disaster.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all parents with young children,

thanking you for them

and asking you to bless and guide their parenting;

we pray for families in debt;

for those whose homes have been repossessed,

And for those whose financial security

Makes them forgetful of your love.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are burdened

with financial worries

and all who struggle to make ends meet,

all over the world;

and all those who do not know God’s love for them.

We pray for those who are suffering at this time, in body, mind or soul.

Particularly today we pray for ………..

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have died in the faith of Christ,

especially for: Peggy Vincent who died recently.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Father, we give you thanks

for the generosity of your love for us,

which lasts beyond death into the whole of eternity.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers

For the sake of your Son,

Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord of all mercy,

we your faithful people have celebrated that one true sacrifice

which takes away our sins and brings pardon and peace:

by our communion

keep us firm on the foundation of the gospel

and preserve us from all sin;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

10th Sunday after Trinity

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 15:04:22 GMT

10th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 10th Sunday after Trinity

Let your merciful ears, O Lord,

be open to the prayers of your humble servants;

and that they may obtain their petitions

make them to ask such things as shall please you;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Isaiah 58: 9b-14

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

and the LORD’s holy day honourable,

and if you honour it by not going your own way

and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,

and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Hebrews 12: 18-29

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Luke 13: 10-17

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Homily:

When I was growing up, Sunday was a very different day in our house. My parents worked in a shop for 6 days a week, sometimes from very early in the morning to very late into the night. Sunday was a catch-up day. It had its special bits. We always had a full English breakfast and a roast lunch. Apart from cooking, Mum hoovered the house and ironed my Dad’s shirts and my uniform for the coming week. Dad got up later than usual, read a Sunday newspaper and then went to the pub for a drink – or two. We ate late and I then made a start on the homework that I had not done so far that weekend. Somewhere in the day Mum and I would have a heated discussion about my lack of time to do the dusting: my job.

I might have been to Church in the morning as I was a Guide on Church Parade once a month. I would have gone in the evening to Sung Evensong as my friend and I were in the Choir.

We rarely saw any other members of our family because my uncles and my older cousins all worked in the coal mines. For them: Sunday was much the same as any other day. They were either on a day off or an afternoon or a late. In 1994, the Sunday Trading Law was passed and if my parents had still been at work, they also would have discovered that Sunday became just another working day. At around that time, half days in the week were also phased out. Of course it is possible for shopworkers to ask not to work on Sundays if they attend church but the fact is that it takes a lot of courage to stand up to your Supervisor when he has many others willing to take the work.

What holds our readings together today is a few thoughts about the Sabbath and our observance of it. Sabbath day observance started way back in the mists of time for the Jews. In Genesis Chapter 2, verse 2 we read: “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work, Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

We see the inauguration of a day of rest. It certainly wasn’t very restful for my Mum by the time she had cooked for us and cleaned for us and caught up with everything else she had got behind with.

The Jews were better at having a day of rest. Of course, the seventh day inaugurated by God is Saturday, so the Jewish Sabbath begins at 6pm on Friday evening and goes on until 6pm on Saturday. All preparations for the family meals are done before 6pm on Friday because no work is allowed on the Sabbath. No travel is allowed because that is viewed as work and medication can only be given to save life, not to routinely treat an illness. There are over 600 rules in Judaism and many of them refer to the Sabbath day. Our gospel passage describes what happened one day when Jesus was in one of the synagogues for sabbath worship. We can read of several stories concerning people whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath. He got himself into serious trouble with the Pharisees when he did it. Eventually, he was driven out of one synagogue and the Jews were going to stone him to death. Today’s story seems much gentler. There is no person shouting out to Jesus to come and heal them. We read that Jesus had just finished teaching and a woman appeared. She was clearly in need: her back was bent over and she had been in that condition for 18 years. Jesus just calmly said to her “you are set free” and he then laid a hand on her for healing. She immediately stood up straight and began praising God. The leader of the synagogue was not pleased and pointed out to Jesus that we don’t do that kind of thing on the Sabbath because the Sabbath is different. Jesus, as always pointed out the hypocrisy. It was impossible to cease from work altogether. They said they didn’t work but they still fed and watered their animals.

Isaiah says that the people should not pursue their own interests on the Sabbath day but rather should take delight in the Lord. They should spend time praising God and thanking him for his many gifts to them. If they do that God will be pleased with them and they will prosper. The writer to the Hebrews compares this time of praise to coming to Mount Zion and to the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where there are innumerable angels in festival robes. They are talking about deliberately taking time out regularly to develop a relationship with God where he can help us to know what our next step in life is to be. Many people these days who are serious about living a Christian way of Life purposefully take a day every week as their Sabbath day. Sunday is no longer a day for many people when they can take a good length of time because they are involved in leading worship and teaching children or running activities. So, they take some time on a quieter day of the week or a quieter time of the day in order to concentrate on their personal relationship with God. They don’t have any rules about how this is done. Sometimes it’s dedicated time with their husband and wife and family: to do what they love to do together. Then they probably eat together and pray together. No guests, no catching up with the washing etc. It takes some organizing for busy people but if we are serious about our relationship with God, it is worth it.

Intercessions:

For the peace that comes from God alone,

for the unity of all peoples,

and for our salvation,

Lord, in your mercy.

Here our prayer.

For the Church of Christ, for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops

and for the whole people of God throughout the Anglican Communion.

We pray for the clergy of this Deanery and Stephen Thorp our Rural Dean.

We pray for the local churches as they continue vacancy and for those whose task it is to appoint clergy.

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

For the nations of the world, particularly praying for those where there is unrest and suffering. We continue to pray for Russia and Ukraine that peace may be restored.

For Elizabeth our Queen, Charles, Prince of Wales and William, Duke of Cambridge.

We pray for all those in positions of leadership in our nation whether at local or national level. We pray for the election of the new Prime Minister.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

For this village of Stow Bedon and all the churches in this Benefice: for our neighbours and our friends. For all we do to promote peace and the love of God to those we live amongst.

For all children and their teachers now on holiday, farms and other places of work.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

For the aged and infirm,

For the widowed and orphans,

For the sick and suffering.

We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House and for all those being cared for in their own homes.

For …..

And for anyone else in need,

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

For the dying, for those who mourn,

for the faithful whom we entrust to the Lord in hope,

as we look forward to the day when we share

the fullness of the resurrection. We pray for the family and friends of Peggy Vincent who has died recently.

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God of our pilgrimage,

you have willed that the gate of mercy

should stand open for those who trust in you:

look upon us with your favour

that those who follow the path of our will

may never wander from the way of life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Trinity 9

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:54:25 GMT

Trinity 9

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Trinity 9:

Almighty God,

who sent your Holy Spirit

to be the life and light of your Church;

open our heart to the riches of your grace,

that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit

in love and joy and peace;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you ,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Jeremiah 23: 23-29

23 “Am I only a God nearby,”

declares the LORD,

“and not a God far away?

24 Who can hide in secret places

so that I cannot see them?”

declares the LORD.

“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”

declares the LORD.

25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Hebrews: 11:29-12:2

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Luke 12: 49-56

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

Homily:

The Letter to the Hebrews continues on from last week when we heard the story of Abraham and Sarah’s life of faith which took them from childlessness to becoming fathers of a great nation and from being nomads to becoming city dwellers. And as our reading goes on: the lives of those who have found faith continues to prosper. There is the miraculous capturing of the town of Jericho where the massive defensive walls just fell down after God told the Israelites to walk round them 7 times. Then there is a list of Prophets Judges and Kings who conquered the whole of the Promised Land and brought a settled life to the people. But then we begin to get into a list of people who were not so fortunate. Those who were imprisoned and tortured for living out God’s call to them and those who lost their lives. The writer to the Hebrews ends by talking of “a great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us encouraging us to keep on with whatever our individual call may be. That great cloud of witnesses is taken to be the saints who have given us their example in the way they have lived their lives.

So, what are we to deduce from this reading? Well, that following God is never easy. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob went through many personal and national struggles in order to receive the promise. For many of those who came later, they sacrificed their lives in order for something good to be revealed. If we all talked about our life experiences this morning, there would be people who would talk of their earlier life being a struggle and then coming through to a much better time. There will be those who are still struggling to see what it’s all about. Wherever we are, however, what the writer of Hebrews appears to be saying is that if we have chosen to follow Christ, we do so in order for those who come after us to use us as stepping stones to becoming saints in the Kingdom.

Our job, of course these days in the Church is much harder because those we can teach and influence are not here on Sundays. It is not just our children who do not choose to attend church, it is also our grandchildren and we are moving towards the next generation after them. So, I think that we need a two-pronged attack these days. We cannot give up on doing all we can to encourage people into our churches. In this Benefice we are fortunate in that in some of our churches we have people who will do things to help us to function. We have flower arrangers who we can call on to make the churches look beautiful when it is our turn to host a benefice service or when we want to help our brides create their dream atmosphere. We have people who clean on a regular basis. We have people who will help with fund raising. Those people for whatever reason don’t feel comfortable coming to church or have other things they do on Sundays. They are essential, however, for the small numbers we are to continue to provide this witness to our parishes.

The second prong of the attack to is where we are able to witness to people out there who we do not expect to come to church. Jesus didn’t build any churches. When he said to Peter: “On this Rock I will build my church”, the words used are not about buildings. We have building of course, built over many centuries, but church is first and foremost about loving and caring for those God has given us: our families and friends and our parishes. Nearly every week, we pray here for our three schools and Thorp house. They are places we are responsible for as Christians in this Benefice. Our schools ask things of us. In the last little while, I have been to Thompson school to talk about the Bible to a class. I go to Caston school twice a term to take Collective Worship and some of the children have been to church to study Baptism and Marriage. Great Hockham school have asked us for end of term assemblies in church. As we do those things, the children get to know us and maybe one day one of them will return and ask for a wedding service because of what she experienced in school. Aside from that, we never know what effect we have by anything we say and who it is who is listening.

At Thorp House, we have just begun to reinstate a service to which our choir is also invited to take part. Last time, 13 elderly people came. It’s not one of those care home activities where the elderly people get wheeled in whether they want to be there or not. Those people chose to be there and appeared to really enjoy it. The relationship between them and us is deepening all the time. I was asked to take a funeral of one of the residents and another has started attending a church following us being there. We never know what we do or what we say that has an effect on people but sometimes God calls us to speak out about our faith. I’m not talking about standing on a podium as people have at Speakers Corner in London. It’s usually much quieter and simpler than that. Just a word or holding a hand is sometimes all that is required.

Finally, God knows our struggles before we even have to pray about them. God is a God, who numbers every hair on our head whether we have many or fewer. He knows about every sparrow that falls. He wants us to tell him about the things which upset or concern us. Not because he does not know but because he wants us to deepen our relationship with him by just telling him how it is. He wants to help but he wants us to talk to him about it. Then he will give us the strength to continue living this life of faith that the writer of Hebrews describes.

Intercessions:

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,

let us pray to the Father.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

You promised through your Son Jesus Christ

to hear us when we pray in faith.

We pray for the Anglican Communion throughout the world and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops. We pray for this parish of Griston and for our Benefice, for all who live and work within this area.

Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ,

that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,

live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for our world, particularly areas where there is oppression and persecution, particularly Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan. For those who are having to leave their homes as a result of harsh governments or natural disasters.

We pray for world leaders and our own government and MPs as they try to balance the return to a healthy economy with the need still to be cautious about the spread of Covid 19. We pray for the election of the new Prime Minister by members of the Conservative Party.

We continue to pray for all those who work in the National Health service and in medical research.

Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority;

and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and peace;

that we may honour one another and seek the common good.

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for the roads and streets where we all live, for everyone who lives and works or visits there. We ask You to bless all of our friendships and give peace and health to all those we live amongst.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,

That we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who are in need at this time. For those who are still suffering as a result of the virus, physically, economically or emotionally. We pray for those whose mental health has deteriorated as a result of lockdowns and not being able to see family. We pray for those who have no one to pray for them and no one to care for them.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, especially …….

Give them courage and hope in their troubles;

And bring them the joy of your salvation.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ, particularly Peggy Vincent,

according to your promises,

grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Peter and Paul and all your saints,

we commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen

The Peace:

Peace to you from God our Heavenly Father.

Peace from his Son Jesus Christ who is our peace.

Peace from the Holy Spirit, the life-giver.

The peace of the triune God be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Holy Father,

who gathered us here around the table of your Son

to share this meal with the whole household of God;

in that new world where you reveal the fullness of your peace,

gather people of every race and language to share in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

God the Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace …

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

8th Sunday after Trinity - 7.8.2022

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:50:32 GMT

8th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect for 8th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God,

we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies

in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments;

that through your most mighty protection,

both here and ever,

we may be preserved in body and soul;

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Isaiah 1: 1, 10-20

1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

10 Hear the word of the LORD,

you rulers of Sodom;

listen to the instruction of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!

11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—

what are they to me?” says the LORD.

“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,

of rams and the fat of fattened animals;

I have no pleasure

in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

12 When you come to appear before me,

who has asked this of you,

this trampling of my courts?

13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!

Your incense is detestable to me.

New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—

I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.

14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals

I hate with all my being.

They have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I hide my eyes from you;

even when you offer many prayers,

I am not listening.

Your hands are full of blood!

16 Wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds out of my sight;

stop doing wrong.

17 Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.[a]

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the c ase of the widow.

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”

says the LORD.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good things of the land;

20 but if you resist and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Luke 12: 32-40

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Homily:

A couple of weeks ago I conducted a Marriage Service in Holy Cross and the couple chose two hymns which they probably sang in school. One of them was: “Give me Joy in my heart” and the other was: “One more step along the world I go.” The chorus of which goes: “And it’s from the old we travel to the new,

Keep me travelling along with you”.

Every time I buy a new phone or similar piece of kit, I realise just how far technology has moved on in the previous two years since I bought the last one. A new washing machine or car or credit card contains many new and improved ways of operating and keeping us safe. Life moves on. And sometimes we are carried kicking and screaming with it and at other times we embrace it and love the new ways for doing things. We may sometimes think that we are becoming extinct and life is moving on without us but it’s only when we can embrace the old ways of doing things and learn from the experience that we can move into something new. Learning about a new phone is much less painful if we can understand the old one at least a little. “And it’s from the old we travel to the new …..” Its by fully absorbing the past that we can go forward.

That’s the point of counselling or therapy for those people who have suffered some abuse or catastrophic event in their lives. When they are enabled to talk through what happened with someone trained to listen and ask the right questions, they are set free not to forget the trauma but to use it to inform the future and the way they live.

Our reading from the letter to the Hebrews talks a lot about faith and uses the life of Abraham as an example. We know that the greatest disappointment of Abraham’s life was that he had no children. He and his wife, Sarah had lived until their nineties and never got over the fact that Sarah was barren. The neighbours and others didn’t let them get over it either as being childless was a real sense of failure in their community. They would have been reminded of their loss often.

Then one day, Abraham received a word from God. The word was that he would one day be father of a great nation. Well, I don’t know about you but if I was told now by God that I would soon be having a baby and that we would be founding a whole nation, I might just think that I had dreamed it or was going mad or at the very least the messenger had got the wrong person. So, if God then said to me as he said to Abraham: pack up everything you own because you are leaving your home and I’m not going to tell you where you are going, I want you ready and I want you to just set out and I will tell you where later. That takes more faith than I have and maybe that’s what Abraham thought too. But he went. And as he went: a baby was born to Sarah and a line of inheritance and succession was produced through Isaac and Jacob. They were shepherds and herdsmen but they came to realise that God had prepared a land for them to settle in. They didn’t know any of that in the beginning. The old ways of nomadic existence changed into a new life of being city dwellers.

So, how did they come to trust God to change their lives so totally? They used their history and experience to teach them that God is to be trusted. When Abraham and Sarah’s precious, longed for baby grew up a bit, God spoke to Abraham again and this time he told him to sacrifice Isaac. Now, I have my heart’s desire which I have waited all my life for and life is great and I begin to see how I am going to be the founder of a nation through my precious baby and God tells me to kill the child. Abraham had more faith in God than I think I could manage. But it is Abraham’s knowledge that God can create a miracle in enabling Sarah to conceive that gives him the strength to trust for the future. When God saves Isaac from death, Abraham is again strengthened to go on trusting and having faith in God’s promises.

It was common for the early saints in England such as Cuthbert and Aiden to put to sea in a tiny boat made of rushes called a coracle. They would sail, blown about by the winds and waves trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to land them safely ashore. When they arrived, they preached the Gospel wherever they were and to whoever they came across. They were not crazy but used their experience of God’s love and protection to give them the strength to go where he led them.

Our faith experience can lead us from the old into the new if we allow it to. We can ask God what he is showing us in our present life situations and what we should do about the future. What is he saying to us after Covid-19? What is he saying after a fire which destroyed 12 houses practically next door to us? What is he saying in the political debates of the moment? What is he saying through the war in Ukraine and through the rises in the cost of living? And that’s just “out there”. What is he saying in our family situations and in how we are feeling about our lives?

It's from the old that we travel to the new. We are not static, we are journeying on all the time, even though we often don’t notice the travelling. Our passage from Hebrews ends with these words:

“If they (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) had been thinking of the land they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country (don’t we all?), that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he has prepared a city for them”.

Intercessions:

May the Spirit pray through us

as we try to put into words the longings of our hearts

for the Church and for the world.

Father, we thank you

for all in our lives who have helped us to pray

and to grasp something of your great love and power.

We ask your blessing and empowering

for all who teach and minister in your name;

we ask for our Sunday worship to be an overflowing

of our daily walk with you,

and an expression of our deepening love.

We pray for all teachers and children now on summer holiday.

For our Bishops Graham, Alan and Jane and all clergy and laity in this diocese.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Father, we thank you for the beauty and diversity

of the created world we inhabit.

We ask for the wisdom to tend it carefully,

respecting the natural laws and sharing the resources,

listening to the weak and those with influence equally,

the poor as well as the wealthy.

We pray for all who work on the land, particularly in this Benefice. We continue to pray for rain and for safety as the harvest is gathered in.

We pray for our care of these buildings and our churchyards as our heritage and our hope for the future.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Father, we thank you

for the innocence of the very young

and for the joy of friendships,

for all with whom we share our daily life,

and those we love but seldom meet.

We ask for hearts that are skilled in listening,

So that we discern and respond to the real agendas.

We pray for this church dedicated to the Holy Trinity and for all we try to do here to spread the love of God.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Father we thank you

for the advances in medical knowledge

and the hope of new treatments for many diseases.

We pray for all in medical research

and all whose lives are crippled or disadvantaged

by illness, frailty or damage.

We give thanks for all who work within the medical and care professions.

Give comfort and reassurance,

healing, wholeness and peace, particularly today to …….

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Father, we call to mind

all those we have known and loved

who lived among us and have now died.

We pray for all who made that journey

unnoticed and alone.

We ask that they may know your mercy

and the everlasting peace and joy of heaven.

We pray today for: Peggy Vincent who died recently.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Father, we thank you for your wisdom and truth,

your understanding and generosity.

We acknowledge our total dependence on you,

and praise you for providing us with all we need.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Strengthen for service, Lord,

the hands that have taken holy things;

may the ears which have heard your word

be deaf to clamour and dispute;

may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit;

may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with the light of hope;

and may the bodies which have been fed with your body

be refreshed with the fullness of your life;

glory to you for ever. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

7th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 11:18:26 GMT

7th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 7th Sunday after Trinity

Lord of all power and might,

the author and giver of all good things:

graft in our hearts the love of your name,

increase in us true religion,

nourish us with all goodness,

and of your great mercy keep us in the same;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Hosea:11:1-11

11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 But the more they were called,

the more they went away from me.

They sacrificed to the Baals

and they burned incense to images.

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

taking them by the arms;

but they did not realize

it was I who healed them.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness,

with ties of love.

To them I was like one who lifts

a little child to the cheek,

and I bent down to feed them.

5 “Will they not return to Egypt

and will not Assyria rule over them

because they refuse to repent?

6 A sword will flash in their cities;

it will devour their false prophets

and put an end to their plans.

7 My people are determined to turn from me.

Even though they call me God Most High,

I will by no means exalt them.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I treat you like Admah?

How can I make you like Zeboyim?

My heart is changed within me;

all my compassion is aroused.

9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,

nor will I devastate Ephraim again.

For I am God, and not a man—

the Holy One among you.

I will not come against their cities.

10 They will follow the LORD;

he will roar like a lion.

When he roars,

his children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come from Egypt,

trembling like sparrows,

from Assyria, fluttering like doves.

I will settle them in their homes,”

declares the LORD.

Colossians 3: 1-11

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Luke 12: 13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Homily:

I think I have told you before about my friend who has a PhD in Theology and has the luxury of spending whole weeks trying to establish the meaning of a verse in the Bible. My approach is a bit more scatty. Usually on a Sunday afternoon or Monday morning I look through the Readings for the next Sunday and also read the Collects and wonder what I am going to talk about. Sometimes I get an idea straightaway, other times more scarily I have to sit down on Friday morning and not have a clue what I will say and stay there until something comes. Thankfully, I am usually in the middle somewhere.

This week, something grabbed me on Sunday afternoon from the Collect and I have, like my friend, been mulling it over ever since. It’s the line: “increase in us true religion”. What on earth, I have been asking myself is true religion? In 21st century Caston or Breckles or Great Hockham or Griston or Stow Bedon or Thompson? Or indeed Merton? True religion? Can there be a false religion? Yes, I think there can.

I sometimes hear as I am going around, no doubt prompted by the collar, “I’m not a very religious person”. If I pursue this conversation, I usually discover that the person concerned may not consider themselves very religious but they are in fact sometimes very spiritual. They may pray: on the one end of the scale, when a loved one has been taken seriously ill or at the other end: daily. They may have a collection of crystals which they feel help their various moods. They may have been married in Church because they recognize something special about our buildings. There may be something within them which originated in their childhood and still has an effect today. They may know and love some hymns that they have been taught and even sing them on occasions. They may speak of something out there or a force which is still affecting their lives. They may say they believe in God although they mostly don’t practise anything we would recognize as religious.

But our Collect is not directed at our spiritual but irreligious friends. It is directed at us. We are the ones who are asking today for an increase in true religion. When we read that list of earthly sins which Paul talks about in Colossians, we can easily gloss over them thinking to ourselves that we are not that bad. Fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed are surely things that I have a handle on by now at this stage in my life. “He was a good man” is often what I hear when I visit families to talk about a funeral. We all do our best, surely. Then we hit the second list that Paul talks about: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language and lying. Umm: that’s a list I could do with looking at and evaluating how I am doing in my prayer time sometime soon. And of course, none of us is perfect and that phrase can take us away from really considering how we are doing. The point is that its good to know where our imperfections lie and confess them regularly.

For me the issue of true religion can be found in the first of our readings today from Hosea. I love this passage because it talks of the really intimate relationship that God wants with his children. Let me remind you of a bit of it:

“When Israel was a child, I loved him … yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms, ….. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love”.

Hosea is talking about the love that God has for the nation of Israel and it sounds just like God is an adoring father who has a son he loves with all his heart. Just like mothers and fathers today; loving and helping their new babies to walk and fulfil everything that life has for them. I think that this is the true religion we are meant to be seeking to increase in our lives. God loves us just like Hosea is saying that God loved the people of Israel. They were like naughty children who constantly wanted their own way. And like all parents God would get angry with them and threaten to cut them off and allow them to make a mess of their lives. But his love for them was so strong that he always took them back when they said they were sorry. Just like we take our own children back when they need us.

If we realise that is the love that God showers on us, we will be trying to love him in return. And its then that we will be more focused on how we behave and what we could do better. That focus will begin to change the people we are and the way we choose to treat others. It’s like a chain reaction. We treat someone else well and they may then decide to do the same. The world begins to become a better place and it all begins with us. It works the other way of course. If we return anger with anger then that’s the atmosphere which spreads. It was the Beatles who sang: “All you need is love”. Admittedly that was in the 60s where love was talked about all the time, but it is still true today. When we go out of our way to do something to make someone else’s life better, we increase in true religion.

Intercessions:

Our God is always ready to listen.

Let us pray to him now.

Father, continue to pour out your gifts on the Church,

so that many may be saved

and our faith may grow strong

and bear much fruit.

We pray for our Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops as they lead the church in this Diocese. We pray for this church and parish and for all the churches in the Wayland Group, for our serving and mission to all areas of the Benefice. We pray for the children in our schools, particularly those moving on to Secondary school in September. We pray for the staff and residents at Thorp House. We pray for our farmers in this difficult year: for rain and for the safe harvest of the crops.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer

Look with mercy on the conflicts of the world;

realign our values and goals

until they are in line with your will,

and our laws and expectations reflect your justice and love.

We pray for all leaders in the world, remembering those countries where there is conflict. We continue to pray for Russia and Ukraine and for peace to be restored there. We pray for this nation: for its political leaders and those in authority in education, technology, the arts or the medical professions. We pray for those forced to leave their homes by ruthless regimes or unjust laws and for those who take unfair advantage over their employees.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Bless our homes and families

and all our neighbours and friends;

train us to listen to one another with full attention,

and recognize one another’s gifts.

We pray for peace and mutual understanding and an awareness of the difficulties we face just trying to live our lives.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Encourage the hesitant, curb the overpowering,

heal the sick, refresh the exhausted,

soften the hardened hearts,

open the eyes of the complacent,

and comfort all who are sad. Particularly today we pray for …..

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Welcome into your eternity

all those who have died in faith, especially Peggy Vincent who died last week:

may we in our turn share with them

the joy of living with you forever.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Thank you, Lord our God

for the hope you have given us through Christ,

which enables us to enjoy living in eternity

even while we still journey here.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

6th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 19:20:33 GMT

6th Sunday after Trinity

6th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 6th Sunday after Trinity

Merciful God,

you have prepared for those who love you

such good things as pass our understanding:

pour into our hearts such love toward you

that we, loving you in all things and above all things,

may obtain your promises,

which exceed all that we can desire;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you ,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Hosea 1: 2-10

2 When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.” 6 Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. 7 Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the LORD their God, will save them.” 8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. 9 Then the LORD said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God. 10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’

Colossians 2: 6-15:

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Luke 11: 1-13:

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Homily:

In our Old Testament reading today we meet the prophet Hosea who was called by God to exhibit in his life something which God wanted to show to his people. It may seem a bit extreme to us, but God told Hosea to take a known prostitute as his wife. Not a good, honest, Jewish girl from a nice, religious family, but a prostitute. So, that is what Hosea did and as time went by, his wife: Gomer had three children. We have explored before the importance of names to the Jews. Children were often called by names which described their family situations. “Isaac” for example means “laughter” and his mother Sarah laughed at God when she was told that she would have a baby at the age of 90. I’m not sure I would just laugh! “Jesus” means “Saviour” and that turned out to be quite a prediction of his life and death.

So, Hosea and Gomer had children and named them specifically to show, to anyone who was interested, how God would deal with the nation of Israel because it had stopped worshipping him and was killing and stealing and making profit out of the poor. The whole nation had become like a prostitute, selling itself as a nation to any other world power which might help it to become more prosperous. Hosea’s life was to be a sign to all around that God had had enough of his peoples’ immorality and wanted them to turn back to him.

Sometimes our lives are just plodding on. Sometimes we have too much to do and our friends tell us to pace ourselves. Sometimes we are running a race. Sometimes we feel like we are crawling along. We can walk the walk and talk the talk. Have you noticed how many images we use of our lives are about walking? Life is often described in terms of being on a journey with words such as: walking, plodding, pacing, sprinting, galloping. And as we walk, we learn about God’s purposes for us and whether we are journeying well or maybe falling a bit behind where we and God wants us to be. As we walk, we are not called to show in quite such a dramatic way as Hosea was, what God wants to tell his world. But in another way, we are. The way we deal with the death of those we love shows our friends and relatives what we believe about life and death. The way we deal with suffering shows others that although we don’t understand it any better than they do, we know that God is in charge. The way we treat others shows that we are trying to love everyone as we have been taught.

Our post-communion prayer today says:

“God of our pilgrimage, you have led us to the living water: refresh and sustain us as we go forward on our journey.”

A pilgrimage is the name given to a spiritual journey. Typically, it is a physical journey to a shrine or other place of importance to a person’s beliefs. It is not just connected to Christianity so Muslims will try to get to Mecca at least once in their lifetimes. We may resolve to visit the Holy Land or walk along one of the pilgrim ways which are increasingly being set up across the country. In our Benefice, we may decide to visit a place associated with St Margaret or St Peter or Paul, or St Botolph or St Martin. In this county we could pilgrimage to Walsingham. Our journey through life needs to have some highs and lows because that is when we learn the most about God.

I was on a physical walk of 26 miles from Lee Abbey to the Doone Valley at the age of 23 when I experienced God telling me that He loved me. I can’t explain any more details about it than that but whatever happened has survived enough years for me to re-tell it this morning. It affected my spiritual walk and still does today. Some of us have felt God is a special way in our gardens or in times with friends or when we have visited places like Cathedrals. For some people the next step of the journey may have come through returning to faith later in life. Sometimes, it’s good to deliberately visit somewhere we can spend some time looking at our spiritual journey and what God might be saying to us now.

On a very hot Wednesday evening this week, I went to Tori’s ordination as a priest in Swaffham Parish church. Tori is the curate in Swaffham and she missed her big ordination occasion in Norwich Cathedral in June because she caught Covid.

So, what did I learn about my spiritual journey on Wednesday evening? I learnt that Christians still love one another and show care and real compassion even on a hot evening. Most of the group that was ordained in the Cathedral in June travelled from all over the diocese to support Tori. One of them made up the shortfall of Bellringers so that they could ring. I learnt that Christians really do need to pray for one another. Bishop Jane reminded us to pray for her as she prays for us more than once in her sermon. I learnt that as Christians we will sometimes only build others up when we think less of ourselves. At the end of the service Bishop Jane asked Tori to give her a blessing and it was a lovely picture to see our Bishop kneeling on the floor and Tori with a delighted smile on her face giving her first blessing as a priest to a Bishop. That may have gone some way to making up for not going to the Cathedral. Finally, I learnt that reconciliation sometimes takes a while to happen but is great when it does. I loved processing into Church beside Paul my previous Vicar from the Fountain of Life and sharing a moment with Janet, the Vicar of Swaffham. It doesn’t have to be that much to help us to realise that things move on, sometimes without picking too much at them.

So, what is God showing you about your pilgrimage through life at the moment? Is it time to change your pace, or take the next turn or even to turn around and move in the opposite direction?

Let me just remind you of the post-communion prayer:

“God of our pilgrimage, you have led us to the living water: refresh and sustain us as we go forward on our journey.” Amen

Intercessions:

Gracious God, fountain of all wisdom,

we pray for all Christian people;

for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops,

and for all who teach and guard the faith.

May the word of Christ dwell richly in our hearts,

and knit us together in the bond of your love.

Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for the leaders of the nations,

And for those in authority under them.

We pray for this nation, for Elizabeth our Queen and the members of the Royal Family.

And for all leaders of government at national and local level and for those whose task it is to elect a new Prime Minister.

We pray for those nations where there is unrest and war at this time and particularly for Russia, Ukraine and Sri Lanka.

Give them the gift of your wisdom,

and a right discerning in all things.

Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for this church dedicated to St Margaret, for this village and for the Wayland Benefice.

For those who live, work and visit here.

We pray for all who seek the common good.

Speak your word of peace in our midst,

And help us to serve one another as Christ has served us.

Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer

We pray for those who do not believe,

And for those of hesitant belief.

Open their ears to hear your voice,

and open their hearts to receive you, the very Word of Life.

Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for those bowed down with grief, fear or sickness, especially today for ………

May Christ your living Word bring them comfort and healing.

Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who have died in the faith of Christ

and we rejoice with all your saints,

trusting in the promise of your word fulfilled.

Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

Lord of the Church,

hear our prayer,

and make us one in heart and mind

to serve you with joy forever.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace :

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God of our pilgrimage

you have led us to the living water;

refresh and sustain us

as we go forward on our journey,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Sunday: Trinity 5

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 11:23:01 GMT

5th Sunday after Trinity - Sunday 16th July 2022

We welcome back to St Martin’s this morning Revd Adrian and Marian Bell. Adrian will be leading our service and preaching. Good to have you with us again.

5th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 5th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God,

by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:

hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,

that in their vocation and ministry

they may serve you in holiness and truth

to the glory of your name;

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Amos 8: 1-12

8 This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. 2 “What do you see, Amos?” he asked. “A basket of ripe fruit,” I answered. Then the LORD said to me, “The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. 3 “In that day,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “the songs in the temple will turn to wailing. Many, many bodies—flung everywhere! Silence!” 4 Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, 5 saying, “When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”— skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales 6 buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat. 7 The LORD has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done. 8 “Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn? The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sin like the river of Egypt 9 “In that day,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. 10 I will turn your religious festivals into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day. 11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land, not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. 12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it

Colossians 1: 15-28

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[g] your evil behaviour. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Luke 10: 38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Homily:

Today in our Gospel we see Jesus meeting Mary and Martha, and this very small human incident says so much for the world in which we live. The message behind it is understandable in any age.

Whether in life you are a Martha, always busy and ready to put your hand to anything, or a Mary, who is thoughtful and prayerful, there is very little we can do to change you.

Why this very short episode in the life of Christ is important is because it underlines the importance of priorities. As we prepare for an election of a leader of the Conservative Party who will be our next Prime Minister, everyone is jockeying for positions including our own local MP in Swaffham, Liz Truss. Who eventually comes out as the winner will soon be seen, but they are all putting forward their priorities hoping to win as many voters over as possible.

Personally. as I look at the state of the nation and the world I wonder who wants to be a leader anyway. Power has always been a guiding factor but I hope that the word ‘service’ might come into play as well. I know one candidate has been affected by an early morning address by the Houses of Parliament Chaplain, I hope that more attend the early morning prayers before the vote takes place.

Now I have to admit that I am more of a Martha than a Mary. I am not a tidy, orderly sort of person like Martha but I love to be busy. Throughout my ministry I have also seen myself working with others and helping where I can. In my last parish we created the well known, Christmas Tree Festival which is now in its 21st year. But to create it took a massive amount of work and Marian and I were totally involved in every area for most of the year. As the Festival went on, I left others to say prayers on the hour in the Festival for 70 charities taking part and I often headed off to Bookers in Holt for extra supplies for food for refreshments as we were running low, or rescued the kitchen sink or a toilet when there had been a problem, or even rescued a tree where the lights had failed. Everyday we made gallons of soup for the kitchen, Marian had a massive Christmas stall which raised over £8,000 and together we wore ourselves out. At Christmas we were to use an earthy Irish phrase ‘knackered’.

That was a Martha act, but why can’t we be more like Mary? I think that you have to be honest with yourself. A week away on a quiet retreat would drive me totally mad. On retreat in Sheffield at Whirlow Grange as a curate I once became so fed up that I went down the local pub for drink and I said to barman, ‘I bet you’ve never seen anyone from the retreat centre here before.’ He said,’ More come than you would know – keeps me in business’

So, as I sit in the garden with a book reflecting or relaxing – how long does this last………… what do I see in front of me ? – roses needing pruning, weeds needing to be taken out and leaves needing to be collected. We can’t change our nature.

Jesus was not saying that Martha was a bad person compared to her sister but that they were different and had taken different paths and roles.

But this story reminds me that I must allow more time for prayer and thoughtful reflection. Even Monty Don on the Gardener’s World tells us to sit and look at our gardens. Gardening is not all about digging ad pruning. Do I read my Bible enough compared so many other books that I read? Are services taken as quick as possible so I can get home?

Also, Jesus’ view of women was quite different from that of his day. Martha fulfilled the role of Jewish women outlined by the Old Testament and guidance from Rabbis. Martha fulfilled the role as housekeeper and cook and hers would be far more acceptable than Mary’s role which was involved with spiritual matters and discussing the scriptures.

My own view is that if you have people staying they have to eat, they have to be accommodated, the house and garden have to prepared and you have to think of every need your guests will have. All of this is important, but so is realising that there is a larger world out there where all things are of little importance if we don’t make time to reflection and to contemplate and come nearer to God.

However, if you are like me you will never change. Up early, working early, jobs to do, tasks to perform but I am gradually learning to leave space in my life for reflection. As you get older your prayer list continues to expand as the family grows and friends and church members need more prayers. I should say as I did on Saturday, or as Katharine and Richard Wolstenholme having had the weddings of their two daughters fairly recently now know by heart:

‘May they nurture their family with devotion, see their children grow in body kind and spirit, and come at last to the end of their lives with hearts content and in joyful anticipation of heaven.’

©Service and Prayer for the Church of England Pastoral Services

So whether you are a Martha or Mary allow time for prayer and reflection wherever you are – Monty Don of Gardener’s World has given us all this instruction.

Intercessions:

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,

let us pray to the Father.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

you promised through your Son, Jesus Christ

to hear us when we pray in faith.

We pray for your Church worldwide, particularly in areas where it faces persecution, and for the Church here in Thompson and all it does to serve and promote your mission. We pray for all the churches in this Benefice, for the churchwardens and members of the PCCs.

Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ,

that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,

live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our world and all places of violence and bloodshed. We continue to pray for Russia and Ukraine and Sri Lanka, that peace may be restored to those nations. We pray for those who were injured or died in the gun attack in the United States this past week.

We pray for all those who hold positions of authority in national and local government and for those whose task it is to choose a new leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. We pray for peace and unity to surround the whole of that process.

We pray for our Royal Family:

Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority,

and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace;

that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,

that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all those in physical, emotional, mental or spiritual need and for those who continue to suffer as a result of the pandemic. For those who never ask for the help they need. For all agencies working to alleviate suffering.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, especially …..

give them courage and hope in their troubles;

and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ, especially at this time Christine Culley. We ask you to be close to her family and friends as they mourn.

According to your promises,

grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Martin and all your saints,

We commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Trinity 4 - 10th July 2022

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 21:37:02 GMT

4th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 4th Sunday after Trinity
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:
Amos 7: 7-17
7 This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. 9 “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.” 10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. 11 For this is what Amos is saying: “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” 14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 Now then, hear the word of the LORD. You say,

“‘Do not prophesy against Israel and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’ 17 “Therefore this is what the LORD says: “‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’”

Colossians 1: 1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 10: 25-37

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.

Homily:

Last week I began by saying that I had shot myself in the foot by choosing to celebrate St Thomas’ Day and then realizing that I had preached on the Gospel passage set for the day only the week after Easter. Today, our Gospel passage is the Good Samaritan and we looked at that together only during Advent as one of the stories Jesus told.

I know we have looked at the characters of the priest, the Levite and the Good Samaritan but I would like to begin today by looking at the other person in our story: the Teacher of the Law. It did not take Jesus very long in his three-year ministry to offend the Teachers of the Law or Pharisees as they were also known. A Pharisee was known as “The separated one”. He spent the whole of his time studying the Jewish Law as we find it in the first 5 books of the Old Testament. There were in fact 630 different laws which applied to every area of life. We are familiar with some of the ones about Sabbath observance. Work was not allowed so that would include cooking meals and even lighting a lamp. Life could be saved on the Sabbath but treatment to alleviate suffering could not be given.

This Teacher of the Law was trying to trick Jesus. “What do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” was not a simple question for the Jews who had to remember to keep 630 religious rules. Jesus often turned questions around on people. To the man who spent his whole life interpreting the Law, Jesus said: “What does the Law say?”

The City of Jerusalem today contains many people who are there because it is a place where they can express their faith in (to us) extreme and sometimes violent ways. I will always remember visiting the Temple Mount: the place where the Temple once stood. It is a holy site for Jews, Muslims and Christians. There is now a Mosque on the site and only Muslims are allowed to go in. The Mosque is built over an exposed rock where Muslims believe that Mohammed ascended to heaven. Jews believe it is where Abraham sacrificed Isaac and that of course, as well as the fact that Jesus prayed in the Temple, makes it special to Christians too. We were told that if we prayed at the site using prayer books or Bibles, they would be taken off us by guards carrying guns.

Then I remember walking the Via Delarosa, the way of the Cross. Our tour leader prayed beautiful prayers at each station on the walk and it was a very special time. At one point, we sang a hymn and there was a young orthodox Jew dressed in black with a black felt hat and long twirled side-burns who ran past us with his fingers in his ears so that he did not hear the words of a Christian hymn. And at times, we the Christian pilgrims were not much better. There was a jostling to see the holy sites and a pushing to get to the front at the expense of older and more disabled pilgrims.

Here in our churches every Sunday, we practise our faith together: we use the words and prayers and music which will sustain us when we leave here. At the end of every Communion service, there is a little prayer that changes according to the Sunday of the year. It is the one which comes right before “Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us ….. “

I was struck by the words of the prayer we shall use today:

“Eternal God, comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken, you have fed us at the table of life and hope: teach us the ways of gentleness and peace, that all the world may acknowledge the kingdom of your Son.”
Something happens in our churches which, first of all, affects us and then we take out into the world. I love that line: “you have fed us at the table of life and hope, teach us the ways of gentleness and peace”. When we eat a meal, our bodies are satisfied and if we eat the correct food, our bodies are properly nourished and everything works in the way it should. Our symbolic food of the bread and wine which become the Body and Blood of Jesus gives us everything we need to go out into the world. What we have received gives us something to give to others.
The final words of the Communion service are: “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”.

This is not some hard-line observance of our faith where we have to push others aside if they don’t believe what we believe. It is not something that has to be guarded with guns and by excluding others. We don’t have to put our fingers in our ears to protect us from the words of others. Nothing will destroy our faith because it has become part of our DNA just like what we eat becomes a part of us.

Every time we eat during the week between services we can thank God for all He has given us and remember that He will be with us in a very special way the next time we receive the bread and wine.

The Teacher of the Law was a very closed man who helped people into a more and more intricate and involved way of expressing and living a life of faith. We are called to open up our lives to others. We are called live lives of peace and goodwill in a world where there is war and strife. When we look at our own country this week, we see the downfall of a Prime Minister and the news broadcasts, the newspapers and the history book in the years to come will analyse this period in our national life. We begin to see and will continue to see the good and the not so good parts of Boris Johnson’s time as Prime Minister. We will have our opinions, obviously, but as Christians, as all the turmoil of the formation of a new government with a new leader goes on, we are the ones who have a strong core of faith in God and also in humanity which is fed by who we are and what we do and above all, who we believe in.

Intercessions:
Holy God, you have called us to meet and pray together.

We pray for those called to lay and ordained ministry in our Church and for those at present testing their vocation. We pray, particularly, for all those who have been ordained as Deacons and Priests at this season. We pray for those within our own diocese who were ordained recently, particularly for Adam and Tori, curates at the Fountain of Life and Swaffham in this Deanery.
We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops, for the church here in Stow Bedon and for all the churches in this Benefice that you would help us to serve you in every person and situation we meet.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those called to serve you in positions of authority and influence within our world, that all may work for the common good, not for selfish ambition. We continue to pray for the nations of Russia and Ukraine that peace may be restored. We pray for Elizabeth our Queen, our Prime Minister and for all who serve in government both at local and national level. For these villages and all who live and work within them. For our schools in Caston, Great Hockham and Thompson and the residents and staff at Thorp House.
That all would see true greatness as service and true strength as humility.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those called to marriage, and those called to the single life, for those couples preparing for their weddings in these churches in the near future. For parents and grandparents, sons and daughters, for acceptance of what we cannot change and strength to live the Christian life in our present situation.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose lives are full of disappointment, disillusion and discontent, for all those who struggle with great perseverance in difficult circumstances. For those whose lives were and are still being changed by Covid and lockdowns.
We pray for your strength, encouragement and direction. We pray for the sick and for those in trouble: especially we pray for …..
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those called, through death, into eternal life and freedom from all their pain and suffering. We remember the family and friends of Christine Culley whose funeral takes place here tomorrow and Gary Messent. Receive them with mercy and welcome them into your kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
We thank you , Holy God, for your promise that where two or three are gathered in your name you will grant their requests.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into o
ne body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Eternal God,
comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken,
you have fed us at the table of life and hope:
teach us the ways of gentleness and peace,
that all the world may acknowledge
the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Sunday July 3rd 2022, Feast of St Thomas

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 15:19:48 GMT

Sunday July 3rd 2022, Feast of St Thomas

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect for St Thomas’ Day

Almighty and eternal God,

who for the firmer foundation of our faith,

allowed your Holy Apostle Thomas to doubt

the resurrection of your Son

till word and sight convinced him:

grant to us, who have not seen, that we also may believe

and so confess Christ as our Lord and our God;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever Amen.

Readings:

Habakkuk 2: 1-4

I will stand at my watch

and station myself on the ramparts;

I will look to see what he will say to me,

and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

2 Then the LORD replied:

“Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

it will certainly come

and will not delay.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;

his desires are not upright—

but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.

Ephesians 2: 19-22

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

John 20:24-29

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Homily:

You know the expression “shooting yourself in the foot? Well, I did it this week.

I decided that as today is St Thomas’ Day, we would celebrate that fact and have the readings and collect for St Thomas. Then I looked at the gospel passage and saw that, of course, it was the one from St John’s gospel where Thomas gets his name “Doubting Thomas” from. Where he has to see and touch Jesus’ crucifixion wounds in order to believe that he has been raised from the dead. That passage is the one we read on the first Sunday after Easter every year, not on the normal three-year cycle, so I have preached on it twice already to you. I remember talking about the fact that I don’t think it is very fair that Thomas is forever known as a doubter because of this encounter. I want to know where Thomas had gone when Jesus appeared the first time. He was the only one who was missing. He was the only one not hiding in the upper room. Had they all made poor Thomas go and buy their food? Had he gone home to make sure all the families were ok? Was he in the Temple praying? Surely, he should be called “Brave but a bit reckless Thomas” not “Doubting Thomas”.

Anyway, I know I have also told you about how Thomas became a missionary and went to India where he was martyred for his faith in Jesus.

Leaving the gospel for today then, let’s look at the words of our New Testament Reading. It starts off: “So you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”.

The need to belong to something is very strong in the emotional DNA of human. We know that those babies who do not, for whatever reason, make a good and strong bond with their mother, find it difficult to make attachments to other people. Either that or they become too attached to everyone who comes along. Throughout our lives we look to belong to things like clubs and to organizations. When I was a child, I belonged to a Sunday school and then a Church. I belonged to the Guides. I looked up the word “belong” in the dictionary and its first meaning is “to be the property of … “ so to be owned by. I don’t think the Sunday school or the Guides owned me but there are and have been organisations where people have to give up their personal rights in order to belong and much is expected of those who choose or are compelled to join.

The second dictionary definition is: “to be a member of … “, for example: “he belonged to the local cricket club.” He joined, he paid his subs, he supported the team, maybe eventually he got fed up and left. No one was forcing him to stay. He had free will with his time and money. St Paul tells us that we are “members of the household of God”. The choice to join was not ours in most cases. We were brought to baptism where we became members of God’s household by our parents and cared for in the faith by our godparents until we decided to renew our membership in our name through Confirmation or some other kind of commitment to God. At some point we stopped being what St Paul calls “strangers and aliens”. When we first go to the flower club or other places, we are guests of the members. We learn a bit about what the inside of the club is like. Are they friendly? Will they encourage us to arrange flowers or is it only the in-crowd who do that? How much will it cost in my time and my money? Is it worth it?

Paul says that the saints have taught us that we are no longer strangers in God’s household, we are fully paid-up members. Jesus and the apostles and saints form the foundation of the house and the cornerstone. The cornerstone is the most important stone in the building. It holds everything together. That tells us that this household that we are members of is safe and will not collapse. That is good news in a world which often looks like it will collapse. It won’t collapse because it has the best possible foundation laid by Jesus Himself and reinforced by the apostles and saints. How is it made safe through Jesus and the saints and apostles? Paul tells us that the household grows strong together spiritually by what we all share together.

Today is an important day for us as we share the peace together in a more demonstrative way – if you want to. We will also share in the body and blood of Jesus today, again if you want to. A pandemic cannot destroy what we have together as the household of God in this Benefice. A lack of money and people cannot destroy what we have as the household of God in this Benefice. We are not held together by the few we are. We are held together by Jesus, the apostles and the saints. We praise and worship God together because that is what our family does together. We all have family traditions: just look at what happens in our homes when we celebrate Christmas, for example. Every Sunday we do what we do because we are family.

As we praise and worship, the things that hold us together get tighter and our family feels safer. We have a hope, both for now and for eternity that many people in our society today do not have. They have a hope in themselves or in their money and possessions or in their spirituality which does not include Jesus, the apostles and the saints. My own particular opinion is that those houses begin to crack when adversity comes. We continue to keep an open house for people here among us. We welcome those who just turn up as well as those who want things from us when they get married or when they die. Whatever our household looks like to those outside of us, we know that it is built on a good foundation. It’s been around for well over 2000 years now so the fact is that it will probably stay around for a lot longer. Today we give thanks for the example of Thomas and the other apostles and saints who teach us how to grow spiritually into faith and fellowship.

Intercessions:

Lord of all truth and goodness,

we pray for all those in positions of authority

in the Church all over the world

and in each gathered community, praying within our own diocese for our Bishops Graham and Alan and Jane;

that in all the storms

we may be enabled to hear God’s calming voice

and deepen our trust in him.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Lord of great power and majesty,

we pray for those with political and military power,

and all whose decisions affect many lives, praying for all involved in both local and national government in their decision-making at this time.

Speak truth into motives, honour into actions

and your vision of peace into every conflict.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, we pray for all single people, couples and families,

as they weather their own storms and learn from them.

We pray for all who live and work within this village and the ministry and service of this church. We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House.

We pray for our Benefice and for our closer working together.

Lavish on all who have the care of others

the capacity to bring peace and calm fears.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

Lord of all healing, we pray for those

whose minds and hearts are in turmoil,

whose lives lurch from crisis to crisis,

for those who find their lives shattered

by illness or injury; We pray today for …….

For peace in those threatening storms

and a settling of all anxiety

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Lord of eternity, we thank you

for your reassurance of life beyond physical death,

we pray for those who are dying alone,

unnoticed or unprepared;

We commend those who have died, particularly at this time: Peter Harold John Robertson and Christine Culley

to God’s merciful forgiveness and eternal peace.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord God,

the source of truth and love,

keep us faithful to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship,

united in prayer and the breaking of bread,

and one in joy and simplicity of heart. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

2nd Sunday after Trinity: 26th June 2022

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 11:07:43 GMT

2nd Sunday after Trinity: 26th June 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 2nd Sunday after Trinity

Lord, you have taught us

that all our doings without love are nothing worth:

send your Holy Spirit

and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,

the true bond of peace and of all virtues,

without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.

Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

2 Kings 2: 1-2, 6-14

2 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. 7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Galatians 5: 1, 13-25

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Luke 9: 51-62

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village. 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go. 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.

Homily:

Today’s Gospel passage says some very hard things to those whom Jesus encountered in his ministry. So hard that we could be tempted to think: “well if that’s how it is then I certainly can’t be a follower of Christ and I don’t know anyone else who can measure up either. But, clearly, we do all continue to do our best, so let’s take a closer look at what Jesus might be saying and how it is relevant to us.

First of all, this is an important stage in Jesus’ ministry. We have just read that he “resolutely” set out for Jerusalem. Another version of the Bible puts it as “he set his face for Jerusalem”. You know that face when usually a child has made up their mind to do something and they are not going to listen to anything you say to try to change their mind. That’s what Luke is trying to conjure up for us. Jesus knew his destiny and he knew it was time to get to Jerusalem where he would be tried, killed and then rise again.

So, Jesus, the 12 and I’m sure many others they had collected on the way, started out for Jerusalem. And as they went, Jesus sent some ahead to a Samaritan village in order to make preparations for a stop-over there. It’s a strange thing, because they did not need to travel to Jerusalem via Samaria at all and most Jews didn’t because as we know: Jews and Samaritans did not get on and the Samaritans could be quite violent towards them. As happened in this case. The ones sent ahead couldn’t find anywhere for them to stay because all the people had heard that Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem and so they wouldn’t let him stay. The centre of worship for the Samaritans was Shechem so they were basically annoyed that Jesus was not going to fulfil his life’s mission in their centre of worship. We see that even in those days people were possessive about their own places to the extent that they failed to remember all the Old Testament prophesies which pointed to Jesus dying in Jerusalem.

Then we meet today’s first would-be follower on this crucial part of Jesus’ journey. He tells Jesus that he will follow him anywhere at any cost. Jesus is blunt. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” He was asking the man to count the cost of following him. People like Mother Teresa were called to leave everything they owned and give up all ideas of being married and having a family to go where God sent them and amongst the people they would least want to be with except that they knew God had sent them there. He does not ask such devotion from everyone, but he does from some and we never know who that will be and at what stage in life, so it’s good to count the cost of following before starting out.

Then the second would-be follower steps forward. “Follow me” says Jesus and we imagine he looks hard at him as he says it. “Let me first go and bury my father” says the man. The commentators suggest that this man’s father was not yet dead. It was his way of saying; I have responsibilities for my family; I can only follow when I have fulfilled them – when I have buried my father. I think sometimes in our Christian journey, we know the moment is now. We may be prompted to speak to someone about something or to write a letter or to visit. If we don’t act on that prompting, the moment is literally past and we may never see the result we were meant to see. We are called to act now in God’s service.

Then our final would-be follower appears. He is also delaying: “Let me first say good-bye to the folk at home”. Jesus says to him: you can’t plough a straight furrow if you are always looking back. You can’t do what God might be telling you to do if you keep harking back to the past. Sometimes there is need for a radical change in how we do things in order for the kingdom of God to multiply and grow. We can’t do that if we are still looking back to times which we think were better. Our churches used to be fuller than they are now. Our society was very different then. How is the church going to be in our society now?

So, we have a passage where Jesus is explaining that following him is always going to be difficult. We know that in this Benefice as we negotiate 6 years without an incumbent. We know that as our most elderly people who used to do so much in and for our churches are not able to do that any more. We know that when we try to keep up with paying the bills and keeping the buildings sound. We know that when fewer people come to church for weddings, baptisms and funerals and when many of the children we meet in schools don’t know the difference between a Muslim service and a Christian baptism and their parents and grandparents do not know the words of the Lord’s Prayer without having them written in front of them.

You may have noticed that this passage is not really about disciples. The word is not mentioned very much. At the beginning we read of John telling Jesus that they stopped a man casting out demons because they were not sure that he was a follower. Then we have the ever ready-to-be-angry James and John wanting to call down fire from heaven on the rejecting Samaritan village. Jesus in both cases stopped them from making judgements on people who at first sight didn’t seem to be on their side. Maybe the picture is bigger, he is saying. Disciples are people who learn from their Master and the 12 had been with Jesus long enough to learn that love for others is the key. Today’s passage is about “following.” A follower is someone who goes where the leader goes carefully following in his or her footsteps. The leader is hopefully always there to lead but following in this case takes the follower to suffering and death. Its only by suffering and dying to ourselves that we see where our Leader is leading. Our initial decision at baptism to be a disciple involves a whole lifetime of following Jesus through this life of joys and sufferings until we like him are glorified with our Father in Heaven.

Intercessions:

Let us pray to the God of heaven and earth for the growth of the kingdom

May the Kingdom grow

in clusters of Christians all over the world;

may it grow as hearts are warmed

by encounter with the living God;

nourished by word and sacrament,

private prayer and public worship.

We pray for the Anglican Communion and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops as we approach the Lambeth conference.

And for the church in this diocese: for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops.

We hold before God those who were ordained as Deacons and Priests yesterday in Norwich Cathedral and the churches where they serve particularly for Adam and Tori ordained as priests in this Deanery.

We pray for the church here in Great Hockham and for our Benefice.

We give thanks for all who have served the church faithfully over the years and those who continue with that work now.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

May the Kingdom grow

in the crowded streets of cities and towns

and in the scattered rural communities;

in all decision-making and all spending.

We pray for our Queen and the Royal Family and for all those involved in government at national and local level.

We pray for those who hold positions of authority within their chosen professions.

We pray for the rulers of the nations in their decision making and continue to pray for Russia and Ukraine that war may cease and peace be restored.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

May the Kingdom grow

in every home,

every place of work and education,

in each conversation and

in our mutual care of one another.

We pray for our witness to our neighbours and friends and for every home in these villages.

For the relationships between parents and children and for all our day-to-day responsibilities that we may do all things in the name and for the sake of Christ.

We pray for the children in our schools of Caston, Great Hockham and Thompson who are leaving to go on to Secondary school and we pray for all children and students taking important exams at this time.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

May the Kingdom grow

to bring peace and healing

wherever there is pain or sadness

to bring reassurance, comfort, courage and hope.

We pray today for …….

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

In the knowledge that we must all face judgement,

we pray for those who have died,

thanking God for his loving mercy,

and entrusting our loved ones

to God’s safe keeping.

We pray particularly for the family and friends of Peter Harold John Robertson and Christine Culley who have died recently.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

As we thank God for all his blessings to us

We offer him the rest of our lives.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Loving Father,

we thank you for feeding us at the supper of your Son:

sustain us with your Spirit,

that we may serve you here on earth

until our joy is complete in heaven,

and we share in the eternal banquet

with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

1st Sunday after Trinity:

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 21:29:45 GMT

1st Sunday after Trinity: 19th June

1st Sunday after Trinity: 19th June 2022

This week, we welcome back Revd Adrian Bell who will be taking our service and preaching. Good to have you with us again Adrian and Marian.

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

T he Collect – 1st Sunday after Trinity

O God,

the strength of all those who put their trust in you,

mercifully accept our prayers

and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature

We can do no good thing without you,

grant us the help of your grace,

that in the keeping of your commandments

we may please you both in will and deed;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

1 Kings 19: 1-4, 8-15a

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.

8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.

Galatians 3: 23-29

23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Luke 8: 26-39

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Homily:

Today we have a rather strange Gospel for Father’s Day. However, I don’t suppose that when the creators of the Revised Common Lectionary introduced these readings they had any idea about celebrating Father’s Day.

I have to say Father’s Day it is not high on my agenda. In my mind it is another excuse for the retail world to sell to people who have difficult times with their fathers who then feel guilty. Maybe we should acknowledge that being a father or even a son is not easy. However, there is only one perfect Father, ‘Our Father in heaven’, who looks after us all.

Caring is certainly part of being a father and we see this trait so well in Jesus. Jesus was also a good example of how to be a caring Vicar especially in a parish such as this. He cared for those in need, he cared for the dead and the dying, he listened to those with guilt and listened to the self-righteous. He also had to cope with those with evil thoughts and evil intent.

Last week we celebrated Trinity Sunday and it brought back memories of a novel I read at the age of 11 with a fellow church choir boy who still writes to me at Christmas. The novel was by Dennis Wheatley. Written just before the outbreak of World War 2 – it is entitled the Devil Rides Out. Not to be read by a person with a nervous disposition. This encounter with the devil includes black magic and occult, blood and holy water and the signing of the cross - just the sort of reading for keen church choirs boys to read during a sermon. We always began reading the book by making the sign of the cross, just in case we needed help.

This book was fiction but in reality evil is not far from us at any time. The people of Ukraine know that!

So, when we bless a house we used holy water. We sign the door with a cross and as we move into every room we put a cross on each door. I have blessed two houses in the Wayland Group – one in Caston and one in Griston..

In many parts of the world the Christian Church battles against the ancient rituals and beliefs that were common before Christianity arrived. Mental and psychotic behaviour which today we treat in special hospitals or at home was seen to be the act of the devil.

Having visited Broadmoor Hospital for the psychotic in Berkshire, I have to say that it was a frightening experience. Sitting with patients with the nurse/ guards and learning about their lives left a deep impression upon me. We were there as part of an in-service St George’s Windsor training course.

In St Luke’s Gospel today Jesus met a similar person with major problems. The man was called Legion because he had so many devils. We have all met similar people I am sure or know of someone like him.

Last week we visited Gressenhall Workhouse near where our family lives and it was amazing how many inmates in the past were not poor or destitute, but simply mentally ill. We put people away in the past and forgot about them because we did not know what to do with them and we called this the Poor Law.

But this possessed man in Jesus’ time would have little hope – nowhere to go. He would be turned out of his home town and have to live off anything he could find. Jesus cured him and changed his life.

For me this story tells me that Jesus has all power and authority even over the evil forces of our world. We could list today where evil is growing and being encouraged from Ukraine to Syria to Afghanistan. Even in our own country we may not have numerous satanic covens as Dennis Wheatley believed, but we do have many groups which are just as evil. Jesus wants us to use the authority and power given to us through our baptism and confirmation and, in our case, our ordination to encourage compassion and love and to fight evil wherever we see it.

On this Father’s Day ‘Our Father in Heaven’ wants us to fulfil this wish. That is the key gift for Father’s Day.

Intercessions:

For the peace that comes from God alone,

for the unity of all peoples,

and for our salvation,

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

For the Church of Christ, for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops,

and for the whole people of God throughout the Anglican Communion.

For those who have been baptized and married recently in our churches and those preparing for Ordination at Petertide. We remember particularly Tori and Adam who will be ordained from this Deanery.

For the Anglican Communion throughout the world as it prepares for the Lambeth Conference and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops.

For this church and for our Benefice and all who hold office.

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

For the nations of the world, particularly praying for those where there is unrest and suffering. We continue to pray for the nations of Russia and Ukraine that peace would be restored.

For Elizabeth our Queen and for all in authority,

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

For this village of Caston and all the villages in this Benefice: for our neighbours and our friends.

For our schools, farms and other places of work.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

For the good earth which God has given us,

And for the wisdom and will to conserve it,

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

For the aged and infirm,

For the widowed and orphans,

For the sick and suffering.

We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House and for all those being cared for in their own homes.

For …..

And for anyone else in need,

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

For the dying, for those who mourn,

for the faithful whom we entrust to the Lord in hope,

as we look forward to the day when we share

the fullness of the resurrection.

Today we remember Ian Robert Bentley, former Archdeacon of Lynn and Peter Harold John Robertson who have died recently.

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Eternal Father,

we thank you for nourishing us

with these heavenly gifts:

may our communion strengthen us in faith,

build us up in hope,

and make us grow in love;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord …

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Trinity Sunday: 12th June 2022

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 20:18:02 GMT

Trinity Sunday: 12th June 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Trinity Sunday:

Almighty and everlasting God,

you have given us your servants grace,

by the confession of a true faith,

to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity

and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity;

keep us steadfast in this faith,

that we may evermore be defended from all adversities

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Proverbs: 8: 1-4, 22-31

Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:

4 “To you, O people, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,

before his deeds of old;

23 I was formed long ages ago,

at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,

when there were no springs overflowing with water;

25 before the mountains were settled in place,

before the hills, I was given birth,

26 before he made the world or its fields

or any of the dust of the earth.

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary

so the waters would not overstep his command,

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was constantly at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind.

Romans 5: 1-5

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

John 16: 12-15

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Homily:

It’s that Sunday again. Trinity Sunday: when we try to grapple with what it means to worship a God who is three different persons but is still the same God. So, I remember last year I showed you a shamrock and talked about St Patrick who by his preaching helped to convert many of the Irish people to Christianity. The story goes that one day he was preaching and he noticed shamrocks growing at his feet. He stooped to pick one up and told the people that each leaf stands for a part of the God-head; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Three distinct leaves but one stem. And then I used the example of a pitchfork with three prongs but one implement. And then I said that we could use a triangle or a tripod or tri- something else. I remember we were in Thompson because after the service Mark said “So, how about a trifle then. That’s cream, custard and jelly: three ingredients and one dessert. Well done, Mark. You can preach today!

The fact is, however, that the Bible does not make it very clear how we are to view the Trinity and theologians have not made it any easier. The gospel passages for the past few weeks have been from St John chapters 14-16. They are known as the Farewell discourse because they are attributed to Jesus at the Last Supper when he is telling his disciples what will happen after he leaves them at his Ascension. I have neatly sidestepped all those readings and preached on something else so far, but today’s the day to give it a go.

Chapter 14 begins with several verses describing Jesus’ relationship with his Father God. He says to an exasperated Philip who, you will be pleased to hear, doesn’t get it either about the Father and the Son: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me?” Then he goes on to say: “On that day” (when the Holy Spirit has been given), “you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me and I am in you”. So, not only Father and Son but Father and Son and you, all united and part of one another.

There is an extremely close relationship between the Father and Son and we can know all we need to know about God by looking at the life of Jesus: his character and his ministry. But our belief is not just in the Father and the Son. Jesus also promises that when he leaves to return to the Father, he will send another Helper called the Holy Spirit. In chapter 14, we read that one of the Spirit’s roles will be to remind the disciples of what Jesus taught. Then in our gospel passage for today we read about the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. “He” (that is the Spirit) “will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he has made known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine”. Now you know why I have not preached on these readings!! They are brain twisters for sure.

In our reading today, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit: the Spirit of Truth who will guide us into the ways of truth. In my experience, truth is in short supply these days. As I read the newspapers and watch the TV news, I find that various different slants are put on the reporting and its very difficult for us to find out what the whole truth of a given situation is. If you have ever watched Prime Minister’s Question time you will have seen a group of politicians expanding and bending the truth in order that they can proceed with their chosen set of policies without too much opposition. In my previous job with the Youth Offending team, I met many young people who did not seem to know the difference between truth and falsehood. They regularly spun me a yarn about why they had to commit a crime and how it really wasn’t their fault.

Sometimes it’s much more subtle than that, however, and its very difficult to know whether the advice we are being given is in fact the whole truth and how we should decide what to do in a given situation. As Christians, we have the Spirit of Truth who we can turn to when we are confused and don’t know what to do. The person of Jesus gives us all we need to know about how to live a life which befits our calling. He was someone who consulted his Father God before every major decision such as appointing his 12 disciples. On that occasion, he spent the whole night in prayer. He tried to make the lives of everyone he met better by meeting him and he denounced those who lied and cheated. He overturned the tables of those who were making money out of the animals sold for sacrifice in the Temple. He lived a sacrificial life for others. He served even though he was a leader. He always forgave people and did not bear a grudge. When we need to make a decision or evaluate something we have heard, we can compare the way people are reacting with the way Jesus lived.

We have the Spirit of Truth at our disposal in order to lead us through those situations where we might be tripped up by other peoples’ scheming and attempts to use us for their profit at our expense. Sometimes it’s hard to understand how we should be living and where our role models should come from but today we see a Trinitarian God who leads and protects us, giving us assurance of his presence with us through the Spirit of Truth.

Intercessions:

On this Trinity Sunday let us pray to the Father through the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord God may the Church reflect the unity of the Trinity, may there be Godly harmony, shared ministry, mutual support and encouragement in the faith. We pray for Tori and Adam preparing to be ordained as priests at the end of this month in Norwich Cathedral and for all being ordained or testing their call at this time. We also pray for our Bishops Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for this church and our Benefice, giving thanks for all who have served within it through the ages and those who serve now. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Lord God, may the world’s leaders seek not personal power but public good; may conflicts especially those in Ukraine be faced honestly and all needs recognised and met. May all our communities be built up in what is good, true, just and right. We pray for all those people involved with relief agencies and organising lorries to take supplies to those in need. We pray for those who are sheltering refugees and working with them in voluntary agencies. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Lord God, may there be love and respect for one another in every household; may there be mutual support and thoughtfulness, consideration and trust. Today we pray for the community here in Breckles. We pray for the many who will visit our area as the holiday season gets under way and pray for their refreshment and safety as they enjoy the beauty of Norfolk.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, we bring before you those who are ill and those who care for them; those who are unhappy and those who comfort them; all who are undergoing surgery or painful treatment and who have no one to turn to. On this day we pray for our friends, members of our families and all our loved ones in need of prayer: therefore we pray for …… Lord in your mercy, hear our praye r

Lord God, we bring before you those who have died in faith and will now see you face to face. We pray that the dead may rise to new and eternal life, restored for ever. We pray for the recently departed, especially Ian Robert Bentley, Archdeacon of Lynn and Peter Harold John Robertson who have died recently. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer

Lord God, on this Trinity Sunday we pour out to you our praise and wonder at the hidden mysterious holiness of your Being, so full of glory and love.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

Peace to you from God our Heavenly Father.

Peace from his Son Jesus Christ who is our peace.

Peace from the Holy Spirit, the life-giver.

The peace of the triune God be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Almighty and eternal God,

you have revealed yourself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

and live and reign in the perfect unity of love;

hold us firm in this faith,

that we may know you in all your ways

and evermore rejoice in your eternal glory,

who are three persons yet one God,

Now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing:

God the Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace …

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

FEAST OF PENTECOST AND THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 14:15:29 GMT

FEAST OF PENTECOST AND THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect for Pentecost:

God, who as at this time

taught the hearts of your faithful people

by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:

grant us by the same Spirit

to have a right judgement in all things

and ever more to rejoice in his holy comfort;

through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Acts 2: 1-21 The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 8: 14-17

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

John 14:8-17

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Homily:

Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. It’s also known as the birthday of the Church, when the Holy Spirit came in power and the Christian Church began to spread throughout the known world. The Jewish feast of Pentecost was one of the three main Jewish festivals where every male Jew who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem was legally bound to travel to the Temple to observe the feast. Travelling conditions were at their best in June when this festival took place. It commemorated two things: the giving of the law to Moses and it also had an agricultural significance. Each family was required to offer two loaves of bread in thanksgiving for the Harvest. So, our first reading today begins with the crowd gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. And we read that they were Jews from every nation of the world and also proselytes: those preparing to be received into the Jewish faith.

Somewhere in the City meanwhile, the 11 disciples were gathered, along with the 120 people who had been converted by Peter’s words to them. As they waited together, they all experienced something like a violent wind and what seemed to be tongues of fire that came and rested on them. We don’t know exactly what had happened but the effect on those early believers shows us that a miracle had taken place. They were able to speak to all those nationalities present in their own languages and Peter was able to preach to them. The frightened disciples had become brave men who were prepared to be martyrs. The rough fishermen had become great preachers. The Holy Spirit: the promised gift from God had arrived. As Peter and then Paul along with others like Luke , Silas, Mark and Timothy travelled to other countries, their lives exhibited the same power as Jesus had exhibited. They healed the sick, drove out demons and raised the dead. They told people of how God loved them and Jesus died and rose again for them. We are here today because someone told us about Jesus and we made a decision to follow.

In our day, of course, preaching the Gospel has to take a different form. Our children learn about all the different religions in school and we are at the stage where their parents and grandparents do not practise the faith in any formal religious way. Thankfully in our villages people still see the Church as important in their lives when they come for baptisms, weddings and funerals. We still have Church Schools which invite us in to take assemblies and come to visit our buildings. We can still talk about Christianity to them.

One person who is never afraid to talk about her beliefs is our Queen and it could not have escaped anyone’s notice that this week we have been celebrating her Platinum Jubilee. I don’t know whether you watched the Trooping of the Colour on Thursday? I am a bit of a royal watcher so I did. I was interested in the interview at the beginning of that programme where Kirsty Young was talking to Sir Michael Paling and Dame Penelope Keith. One of them said: “so many things have changed during the past 70 years but she is unchanging in her tolerance, understanding, communication and care for the environment.” Sir Michael said that when she became Queen a spiritual change went through the country. She and Prince Philip were a young attractive, energetic couple with a young family and they began to serve a country that was just emerging from the darkness of a second world war and rationing was just beginning. Throughout the war, the King had looked worried, worn out and ill but then this new Elizabethan Era began. Now, most of us cannot remember a time when Queen Elizabeth was not our Queen providing a sense of unity and longevity. Through her Jubilee she is now the image of the emergence from the hardships of two years of pandemic.

She is a woman of strong Christian faith which she has increasingly over the years spoken about in her Christmas message. She embodies what it is to be a follower of Jesus as she still fulfils her promise of service which she made when she was 21. She once said to a member of her staff: “I have to be seen to be believed”. I wonder what it is about her that she wants us to believe? Perhaps it is those qualities which Sir Michael mentioned: that she brings to us: her subjects a model of unity, tolerance, understanding, communication and care for us all and the environment. The crowds on the Mall show us that even if we are to believe that we are moving much more towards a Republic, there was one tiny woman who was the focus. The crowd all wanted to cheer and wave their flags of support. All seemed to be well with the world when we saw her on the balcony. It was not a day for this 96 year old to give in to her mobility problems because her people needed to see that she was there with them. And also on the balcony was her way of showing us that even when she dies, those values will go on through her son, grandson, great grandson and their own families.

That’s what our faith demands of us too. We are called to bring unity in our communities and to restore those values which some people think are just old fashioned and not relevant any more. We are called to be tolerant when people annoy us and criticize us. We are called to try and understand those who are not a bit like us. We are called to communicate our faith by the way we love and go the extra mile. We are called to care for all other human beings and for our environment. The same Holy Spirit gives us and Queen Elizabeth the desire to do that every day and he is always present with us giving us the reassurance we need. Jesus taught us how to serve and calls us to be the best we can be.

Intercessions:

Generous God,

We pray for your Church throughout the world and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops. We pray for the Church in this Diocese and for Graham, Alan and Jane, our Bishops. We pray for the Church here in Thompson and all the churches of this Benefice.

We thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit.

We ask that we may be strengthened to serve you better.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Generous God,

We pray for the world’s leaders and politicians and for those involved in the government of our own nation.

We thank you for the wisdom of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to make us wise to understand your will.

Lord, in your mercy : Hear our prayer

Generous God,

We pray for those nations which are experiencing conflict and unrest. For the people of Russia and Ukraine: that peace may be restored.

We thank you for the peace of the Holy Spirit.

We ask you to keep us confident of your love, wherever you call us.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Generous God,

We pray for all the homes and families in this Benefice. For our schools and Thorp House. We pray today for: ………..

We thank you for the healing of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to bring reconciliation and wholeness where there is division, sickness and sorrow.

We pray for all those who mourn the passing of Ian Robert Bentley, Archdeacon of Lynn, especially Caroline, Hannah, Tim and Ian’s grandchildren.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Generous God,

We thank you for the gifts of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to equip us for the work which you have given us.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Generous God,

We thank you for the fruit of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to reveal in our lives the love of Jesus.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Generous God,

We thank you for the breath of your Holy Spirit, given by the risen Lord.

We ask you to keep the whole Church, living and departed,

in the joy of eternal life.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

And finally: a prayer for our Queen on her Jubilee:

Gracious God, we give you thanks

for the reign of your servant Elizabeth our Queen,

and for her example of loving and faithful service

which she has shown among us.

Help us to follow her example of dedication

and to commit our lives to you and to one another,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Peace:

God has made us one in Christ. He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Alleluia.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Faithful God,

who fulfilled the promises of Easter,

by sending us your Holy Spirit

and opening to every race and nation

the way of eternal life:

open our lips by your Spirit,

that every tongue may tell of your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and strengthen you to proclaim the word and works of God

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Sunday after Ascension Day 29th May 2022

Sat, 28 May 2022 07:17:55 GMT

Sunday after Ascension Day 29th May 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect:

O God the King of glory

you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ

with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:

we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,

but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us

and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Ezekiel 36: 24-28

24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Acts 16: 16-34

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

John 17:20-26

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Homily:

The reading from Acts this morning continues the story we began to look at last week of Paul’s visit to Philippi where we see the spread of Christianity gathering pace. First of all, we meet a slave-girl who is a bit of a groupie following Paul and the others around and, at first, she seems to be quite an asset as she is continually shouting out and telling people that Paul and the others have been sent by God and that the people should listen to them and be saved. It would seem, however, that the slave-girl is not what she seems because no one is being attracted by her words and no one is being converted. After many days of this, Paul is understandably annoyed with her shouting out and he delivers her of the evil spirit which turns out to be the one causing all the commotion. With the slave owner’s way of making a lot of money gone, he has Paul and Silas dragged before magistrates saying that they are disturbing the peace and trying to persuade them to believe things which are foreign to them. Paul and Silas are then flogged and put in prison and the Philippians believe that normal life can then be resumed. But normal life is not about to be resumed. There is an earthquake which shakes all the doors of the prison and the locks no longer hold. Paul, however, who could have escaped, chooses to stay in his cell because he knows that the jailer would be punished if he lost his prisoners. The jailer is so overcome by the power of God in using an earthquake to save Paul and Silas that he immediately brings his whole household to be baptized and they are added to the growing number of people saved. The early Church was no stranger to miracles and discerning the will of God in supernatural ways. Those who God chose to further his work were endowed with the spiritual gifts necessary to do just that.

Last Thursday which, of course, was Ascension Day we read of the very beginning of what was to be the Church. The eleven disciples went with Jesus to the Mount of Olives and there he left them to return to his father. Before he went, he told them to go and wait in Jerusalem to receive that power they would need to be his witnesses. I can imagine them worrying and arguing as they left the mountain. “Why Jerusalem when we come from Galilee?” “I want to go back to fishing, there’s no lake here”. “What am I going to do? I left my job to follow Jesus.” So, the motley crowd decided to go back to the Upper Room where they had held the Last Supper and where they had been hiding for the 40 days since the crucifixion. If we fast forward 10 days, we know that it was while they were hiding there that Jesus sent his promised helper and they were changed in an instant to men able to speak in many foreign tongues in order to witness to the crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit had been given in order for the Church to spread.

These miraculous days of the Early Church are set for our readings in this season following Easter up to Pentecost. Like all of our readings set for specific Sundays, they are there to inspire us to go further in our own faith and following of Jesus. Jesus himself tells us how this could happen. He tells the 11 to “Wait” in order to receive. We read that even though they were hiding away they “all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Paul and Silas had been flogged within an inch of their lives and we read that at midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God with the other prisoners listening to them and it was then that the earthquake struck.

If we continue faithful, whatever is happening in our lives, we are more likely to see God at work. If we want our churches to grow, we have to spend time in prayer, worship and fellowship with likeminded people. In 1949, the island of Lewis in the Hebrides experienced a massive revival which spread through the whole island. All ages were flocking to the church because they felt that they had to confess their sins and live a renewed life. The revival happened after two elderly sisters who were housebound and infirm started to pray for more people to come to their church. They were 82 and 84 years old. God showed those two ladies that if they could get a Scottish preacher called Duncan Campbell to visit, God would use him to bring revival. At first it seemed impossible but his diary miraculously cleared and he was able to spend two weeks with them. Those two weeks grew into two years and the growth began.

For a few years now the Church of England has had an initiative between Ascension Day and Pentecost. It is called Thy Kingdom Come and basically it is about praying for 5 specific people to come to faith. We could do that. We have missed a few days but that does not matter. There is an App you can download if you like that way of doing things but it does not have to be that complicated. Just think of 5 people who you would like to see following God a bit more seriously and pray for them every day until next Sunday. Prayer and waiting on God changes things. It always has, since the beginning of the Church. It is no different now. Our Bible readings are not just about long ago, they are about what can happen if we seriously wait and petition God. I’d like to see a few miracles, how about you?

Intercessions:

Let us pray to God who gives us so much and loves us so completely.

O Lord we pray that there may be a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in all areas of the Church. We pray for our Bishops Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for this church and for all the activities which have been planned for this summer. We pray for our Benefice and for an ever-growing cooperation between all the churches because unity helps us to move forward and accomplish more.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

O Lord we pray for godly leaders and advisers all over the world and for the courage to speak out against injustice and evil. We continue to pray for Ukraine and all the relief agencies working to bring good out of this war. We pray for those who have given shelter to refugees, that support for them may continue to be found.

We pray for those recently elected to local councils through the United Kingdom that they may come together to look to the future and overcome the effects of inflation and rising costs of essential items. In our country we pray for industries and areas of life still badly affected by the time spent in lockdown. We pray for those, both employed and self-employed whose livelihoods are now precarious and who are in danger of losing their jobs.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

O Lord we pray for our communities that we may always be aware of those affected by isolation and loneliness. We pray for all the activities which take place within our villages: for all leaders and those who support them. We also pray for our local schools in Caston, Thompson and Great Hockham in this half term break and for those children who find school difficult because of additional needs that funding may continue to be found to address those needs.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

O Lord we pray for those who have lost their way in life and may feel rejected and unloved. We pray that the Church may be at the centre, helping people to understand that they are always loved and have a purpose. We pray for those with medical problems and for all the people on waiting lists for essential operations and treatment for serious medical conditions. We pray for those who know who are need of our prayers on this day……..

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

O Lord we pray for the dying and especially those who are unprepared or frightened. Welcome into your kingdom those who have died in faith particularly Peter James Childerhouse whose funeral took place this past week; may they live with you for ever. We also pray for the 19 children who lost their lives in the shooting at their school in Texas this week.

Lord in in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Merciful father

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Peace:

God has made us one in Christ. He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Alleluia.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Eternal God, giver of love and power,

your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world

to preach the gospel of his kingdom:

confirm us in this mission,

and help us to live the good news we proclaim;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and strengthen you to proclaim the word and works of God;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Sunday 15th May 2022 5th Sunday of Easter

Fri, 13 May 2022 10:57:26 GMT

Sunday 15th May 2022 5th Sunday of Easter

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Easter 5

Almighty God,

who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ

have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:

grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires,

so by your continual help

we may bring them to good effect;

through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Genesis 22: 1-18

22 Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Acts 11: 1-18

11 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

John 13: 31-35

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”

Homily:

At my previous church, we had the luxury of a resident theologian. He did not start off that way. He did a bit of teaching and a bit of church work, and he believed that he was called by God to do something totally different to theology. But he got hooked by the Old Testament and things just went on from there. The last time I heard of him, he was finishing off a PhD and is on the staff of a non-residential theology course. Anyway, while Freddy was working for the Fountain of Life, he had the luxury (for him. It wouldn’t have been for me!) of being able to spend days thinking about odd verses from the Bible which interested him.

Abraham was 75 years old when God called him to uproot his family, leave home and go to a new place. He did not even know where he was going. He had to trust God to show him. The only thing God told him was that he would become the father of a whole nation. You may think as Abraham is quite important in the whole Bible story that he was already quite an influential ruler. He was the head of a tiny tribe. The Bible is the story of how God chose a tiny tribe to work out his eternal plan of salvation. Abraham and Sarah had been unable to have children so how on earth was God going to make Abraham the father of a great nation?

At 100 years old, Abraham became a father to Isaac, the boy in today’s reading. God’s plan would be carried out through Isaac and his descendants. But back to my friend Freddy and his studies of the Old Testament. In Genesis 22: 20-24, a quick family line pops up. Quite out of the blue and it interrupts the story of Abraham and Isaac. “So, what’s that about”, asks Freddy. It in fact relates the family line of Abraham’s brother: Nahor who had 8 sons: not very remarkable in those days. One of those sons was father to Rebekah. When it was time for Isaac to marry, Abraham sent him back to where the rest of the family still lived so that he could marry a young woman from his own family. He married Rebekah. “Got it” says my friend Freddy. “Now we know why Abraham and Sarah had to wait until they were well into receiving their pension before they had a child”. Yes, it was a miracle at that age but surely God could have done it earlier. Well, no because he has already chosen Isaac’s wife and her family’s line and she is in fact a generation further down. She is Abraham’s great niece. God had a plan and sometimes it needed to be tweaked out of the normal.

Last Sunday was Vocations Sunday and we were talking and praying about vocations to the Priesthood and Lay Leadership of the church. I touched on the vocation of every ordinary member of the congregation and those we live amongst who don’t even recognize that God has a call on their life. God took an ordinary man from an ordinary tribe and worked out his plan of salvation through him. It probably won’t be so dramatic for the rest of us, but God has a plan and will work it out through us.

On Friday I received a very long email from a lady who has visited family graves in this churchyard over many years. She and her husband come from Worcestershire to tend the graves every so often and when they come, they try to find out more about other relatives and where they are laid to rest. She likes to come into church too for the peace it gives her to think about family and life generally. She told me that they have visited over the past two years, but the church has been closed and she understood that but was disappointed not to be able to come in. This year she and her husband had come and found the church open. She was so pleased and as they journeyed home, they got to talking about their own deaths and where they would like to rest. The point of the email was to ask for permission from the PCC to have their ashes buried in the churchyard here, near her parents and their other relatives. They wanted to sort that out now so that their family will not have to arrange it for them. Why am I telling you this? They chose to visit the church here on the first day it was open after two years. They did not arrange that, they turned up and it was open. Being able to come in and think and be, helped them to experience something spiritual and decide to be laid to rest here. Is that a coincidence? I don’t think so.

God calls us to work with who and what he gives us. There was a real thrill about the lady’s request to me. A kind of realizing that they had found their home. God wants us all to find our home in him. He wants us to find peace and joy and security and he wants us as members of his church to help others to do that. It may be through our interests or the people we meet as we go about our everyday lives. He may give us a calling to help our family in some way. We don’t have to be fulltime evangelists or theologians; we just have to love others and be open to what would bring them closer to God. We don’t need to preach, we don’t need to make a big show about anything. We just love. That’s hard enough sometimes when the love doesn’t come back.

I’m going to finish with the last two verses from our Gospel today and what Jesus tells us about being disciples:

“ I give you a new commandment that you love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13: 34-35)

Intercessions:

We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.

Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations particularly where there is conflict and we think at this time of the nations of Russia and Ukraine. We pray for the leaders of the nations and for our own government and newly elected local councillors. We pray for the Queen and the Royal Family as they approach the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee giving thanks for their sense of duty in serving the people of this nation and the Commonwealth..

Jesus, Lord of life; Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, bread of life, give food to the hungry and help the various relief agencies to provide adequate water supplies in areas of drought. We pray for Christian Aid week which begins today. We pray for all refugees and those who are fleeing oppressive regimes often into situations which are more dangerous than the ones they are leaving. Nourish us all with your word.

Jesus, Lord of life; Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, our way, our truth, our life, be with us and all who follow you in the way. We pray for the Anglican Communion and Justin and Stephen our Archbishops and for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops. We pray for other Christian denominations who meet in this area and for all the churches in this Benefice. We pray for the villages which form this Benefice and for everyone who lives and works within its boundaries. For our schools: the teachers and all the children. And all the residents and staff of Thorp House. Deepen our appreciation of your truth and fill us with your life.

Jesus, Lord of life; Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep, recover the straggler, bind up the injured, strengthen the sick. We pray for all those still affected by the corona virus in any way. For those still recovering, those who have lost loved ones, those whose lives have been changed by loss of work, loss of home or failure of their businesses. Lead the healthy and strong to new pastures. Today our prayers are asked for: ………

Jesus, Lord of life, Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, the resurrection and the life, we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you and we remember especially anyone known to us. Lord, that you would be gracious to those who mourn their passing. We pray for Peter James Childerhouse who died recently. Raise us with them to eternal life.

Jesus, Lord of life: Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,

“Peace be with you”. Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Eternal God,

whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life:

grant us to walk in his way,

to rejoice in his truth,

and to share his risen life;

who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing:

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make you perfect in every good work to do his will

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Sunday 8th May. Easter 4/Vocations Sunday.

Sun, 08 May 2022 10:38:01 GMT

Sunday 8th May. Easter 4/Vocations Sunday.

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect for Vocation Sunday:

Almighty and everlasting God,

by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church

is governed and sanctified:

hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,

that in their vocation and ministry

they may serve you in holiness and truth

to the glory of your name;

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Acts 2: 42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

1 Peter 2: 19-25

19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

John 10: 1-10

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

Homily:

Since Easter we have been hearing in our Gospel passages about Jesus’ resurrection appearances. We had the first Easter day where Peter and John run to the tomb at daybreak and discover that Jesus’ body is gone. That is followed by Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus in the garden and him calling her by name. Then we have the two appearances in the upper room where the disciples are invited to touch Jesus’ crucifixion wounds. Then we have the miraculous catch of fish, the breakfast on the beach and the restoration of Peter.

Today we move away from Resurrection appearances to one of the great “I am” claims of Jesus. He actually makes the claim in the verse following our gospel reading this morning. After talking about gates of sheepfolds and men who steal sheep: Jesus says: “I am the Good Shepherd”.

I like to imagine Jesus, when he is talking, just turning around and looking at something to use as an example. Of course, there were sheep all over the place in Palestine because lamb was the main meat eaten at festivals and was also sacrificed all day, every day, for every sin you can imagine and some you can’t imagine at the Temple in Jerusalem. In fact, the altar in the Temple must have had blood poured all over it and running through the building and down the streets.

There were good shepherds and bad shepherds. The bad ones ran off when wild animals threatened the sheep. The good shepherds were prepared to die for their sheep and this happened on occasions when they had no proper weapons to fight off robbers and wild animals. The responsibility was great. If they lost any of their sheep they had to pay for them out of their wages so that is why they ended up sleeping across the doorway of the fold to be ready for anyone trying to get in.

So, Jesus says he is the good shepherd because he also lays down his life for his sheep which are those who follow him.

In recent years, this Sunday has become known as Vocations Sunday where we pray for more people to offer themselves for ministry in the church – for more people to be good shepherds looking after the sheep. We also pray for our own vocations as people of God called here to the Wayland Benefice in 2022.

So why have the images of good shepherds and ministers of the Church become linked together?

In a few weeks’ time, traditionally at the end of June because the 29th is the Feast Day of St Peter – the disciple whom Jesus entrusted with leadership of the church – those men and women who have been tested and found to be of a good character and life go to their local Cathedral or Parish church and are ordained to serve God. First of all, they are ordained as Deacons. The image used in the Ordination Service is of Jesus taking upon himself the role of a servant at the Last Supper when he washed the disciples’ feet. The Leader became the loving servant. Those ordained Deacon learn how to serve God in the church where they have been ordained to spend around three years. They look to Jesus as their example of how to lead through serving. Within our own Deanery we have two Deacons who were ordained last Petertide: Adam works at the Fountain of Life and Tori at Swaffham Parish Church. This year they will be returning to the Cathedral to be ordained as Priests. Then, having completed their year learning about church and parish life, they will be able to bless and absolve their congregations and preside at Holy Communion services. I always remember the first time I presided at Communion here in this Benefice in Caston church a few days after my ordination, coming up two years ago. The image used throughout the Ordination of Priests service is of Jesus the Good Shepherd because it is the priest’s job to seek and save those who have become lost just as the shepherd seeks out the sheep entrusted to his care. He protects them from enemy attacks and keeps them close.

A priest offers others to God wherever he goes and whatever he does because priesthood changes a person’s state in life by the laying on of hands. A priest can never not be a priest whether he or she works in a church or a bank and they constantly through their prayers offer the people and situations they find themselves in. As well as offering people to God, a priest offers God to the people. By the example of his or her life they show God to others. Through the Occasional offices of Wedding, Baptism and Funeral a priest provides a means for families to include God in their important life events. On Sunday Mornings the priest provides the means whereby the congregation can pray and worship God encouraging times of private reflection and also a recognized form of public worship where certain key events take place.

The church needs more priests and deacons. We know that for a fact as we go on waiting for an incumbent in these parishes of the Wayland Benefice. Our numbers of clergy are declining as more priests retire and some are not being replaced. Today our prayers are asked that there will be more men and women called to be ordained or to be lay ministers. We don’t need a special day in order to pray that prayer but it’s a start. Our world needs more people who will love and serve others, whether they have the Church’s authorization to do that or not. We are now very much in a post Christian world where fewer and fewer people know the Lord’s prayer or even one of our most common hymns in a service. They have not heard the things which comfort us: that God loves them and that there is another life after this one where we will see our loved ones again. We need many more people: young and not so young who will offer themselves as loving servants and good shepherds to guide the ones who are getting lost.

Intercessions:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

you promised through your Son Jesus Christ

to hear us when we pray in faith.

We pray for the Anglican communion throughout the world and for our Archbishops: Justin and Stephen. We pray for all those leaving theological colleges in the next few months and moving to new curacies and for their families who will find themselves in new situations and new homes. We continue to pray for all the local clergy in this Breckland Deanery: for those preparing for retirement and for Tori and Adam: curates at Swaffham and the Fountain of Life who are to be ordained priest at the end of June. We pray for all those lay people who have ministered for many years in our local churches. On this Vocations Sunday, we thank you for the ministry of all those who have influenced us during our lives and ask, Lord, that you help us know how you want us to serve you.

Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ,

that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,

live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all the nations of the world, particularly those in conflict at this time. We remember particularly the country of Ukraine and those who have had to flee their homes because of persecution. For relief agencies and those raising awareness of poor working and living conditions For this nation and all those involved in government both at national and local level, particularly those who were elected to office at our local council elections at the beginning of May. For all scientists and health professionals, especially those working in Norfolk and Norwich hospital. We thank God for our GPs and all the health staff at the local surgeries..

Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority;

and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace;

that we may honour one another; and seek the common good.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for this church and village and for all the villages in this Benefice. For our schools in Thompson, Caston and Great Hockham. For Wayland Prison and for all the staff and residents at Thorp House. For those preparing for weddings and Baptisms and those whose funerals will take place in the next few months.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,

That we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who suffer. For those who are still being affected by the virus through being ill or caring for loved ones. We pray for those who are mentally ill and for their carers. For those who find it difficult to manage financially as a result of changed circumstances and the rise in the cost of living. Today our prayers are asked for …..

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit;

give them courage and hope in their troubles;

and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ; We pray for Malcolm Cock whose funeral took place on Wednesday and Peter Childerhouse who died this past week. For all their family and friends as they mourn.

According to your promises,

grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints,

We commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers

For the sake of your Son,

Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen

The Peace:

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, “Peace be with you” Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Merciful Father,

you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,

and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:

keep us always under his protection,

And give us grace to follow in his steps;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make you perfect in every good work to do his will.

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Sunday 2nd May 2022

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 17:52:43 GMT

Third Sunday of Easter 1st May 2022

We welcome back Revd. Adrian Bell who is officiating at our service today and preaching the homily. Good to have you and Marian back with us.

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 3rd Sunday of Easter

Almighty Father,

who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples

with the sight of the Risen Lord:

give us such knowledge of his presence with us,

that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life

and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Acts 9: 1-6

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Revelation 5:11-14

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honour and glory and praise!”

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power,

for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

John 21: 1-19

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you”. Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Homily:

‘Do you love me?’, Jesus asked Peter, ‘Then feed my sheep’. (John 21:17)

After all the excitement of Easter it is good to know that we are still in the season of Easter on this 3rd Sunday after Easter.

My Holy Week and Easter events and services were rather a mixed bag beginning with the Good Friday service at Swaffham’s Buttercross, whilst every noisy lorry, caravan and car in Norfolk seemed to come past. Then a wonderful Naval wedding at Thompson Church on the Saturday and an Easter Day service at Saham Toney. The highlight was a family lunch on the Monday and an Easter egg hunt in the garden with our grandchildren.

Whilst we were putting away lots of Easter decorations for another year and rescuing the garden from the grandchildren’s enthusiastic searching for Easter eggs, the Gospel for today was on my mind. In the Gospel we see the disciples coming to terms with getting on with their lives after the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples were young energetic men and no way could they stay indoors forever, whatever the risk. In today’s Gospel they are out fishing and like the story in Luke 5: 1-11 they have a poor catch. There is no doubt that after the excitement of the last few days there was one thing that Peter and his close friends were good at and that was fishing. But not that night.

In the morning, tired and hungry they see Jesus and he tells them to go out again and fish and the result is that they catch an immense catch - 153 fish -and Jesus is there ready with a fire to cook their breakfast. Now why 153? That seems an odd number to mention. Some theologians believe this was the known number of species of fish in the sea at that time, and others supposed it was the 153,000 workmen who built the Temple – but we will never know.

However, this wonderful story in John tells us so much about the church and leadership. As we recover from the pandemic the church has certainly been hit in so many ways, but with encouragement it will grow as you are doing here in the Wayland Group. In my own mind good leadership, as shown by Jesus, shows compassion and caring. Jesus was aware that they had been out all night and were tired and hungry. He was willing to be part of the group but at the same time he gave leadership.

He saw in Peter the many gifts of leadership which would stand the church in good stead. Peter was not perfect nor are our churches leaders, but he was enthusiastic and he had vision. Jesus knew that most of his disciples would die a martyrs’ death and few would see old age, but the church would survive.

When we went to Italy for a touring holiday, as a family, in the Jubilee year we were able to go through the great west doors of the Basilicas of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Rome, Assisi, Venice, Florence and Naples. These great bronze and silver encrusted doors open every 25 years for penitent people to go through. These doors are always shut unless it is a Jubilee year. Thousands of young people from all over the world came to Rome in this special year, as we did as a family and we even saw people walking bare foot in the Basilica to show their penitence. I just took off my Panama hat. However, I was moved when I stood in St Peter’s Basilica over the place where Peter is buried and felt very humble and very penitent.

Any priest will know that they are totally unworthy to do the many tasks they do. As priests they begin with confession and they pray that God will give them courage to continue.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved him and he did this 3 times and at the end he asked Peter to, ‘Feed my sheep’. And that is our task. We feed them in any way we can. The Church has a task - we have lost touch with so many people, so many children, so many young families. Baptism and Confirmation figures are down throughout the Christian world. But it is not too late. The work that Joy is doing in the schools is vital, as well as work with young couples and the care of all ages. We come from an age past when the clergy had fewer parishes and knew everyone within their parishes. We walked the parish every day. We popped into shops, pubs and farms and offices and factories, we visited hospitals and every club or group in our care. Sadly, those days have gone.

But what I do believe that this Gospel story is teaching us is that the work is for all of us and not just the shepherds. Jesus wants us to use this time of reflection post Covid to reach out to communities in any way we can. Joy has very kindly invited Marian and I to your Stow Bedon Fete on 18th June. These events in my mind are not just for raising money but for the church to be seen within the community. Feeding people can be done in many ways. Our Bishops have an immense task in front of them but so do we.

The task in front of the world with the devastation in Ukraine and also the devastation of their immense crops will mean that the world will need more food and we need to be careful how we use our food and share it. But also,we have a task to feed people’s minds and as a church that is one of our primary objectives. So, whether it is talking to children in schools, having a debate in the pub, or simply a chat across a garden fence, we need to say what we believe and help the community to grow in a Christian way. It is an immense task but I do believe that we can achieve this.

‘Do you love me?’, Jesus asked Peter, ‘Then feed my sheep’.

Intercessions:

We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.

Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations particularly where there is conflict. We pray for the leaders of the nations and for our own government and those who will soon be elected as local councillors. We continue to pray for the nations of Russia and Ukraine for a cease in hostilities and peace to spread across that land.

We pray for the Queen and all senior members of the Royal Family asking that you, Lord would give them peace, heal their differences and bring them to a united place where they can support and understand one another better.

Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, bread of life, give food to the hungry and help the various relief agencies to provide adequate water supplies in areas of drought. We pray for Christian Aid as we approach Christian Aid week. We pray for all refugees and those who are fleeing oppressive regimes often into situations which are more dangerous than the ones they are leaving. Nourish us all with your word.

Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, our way, our truth, our life, be with us and all who follow you in the way. We pray for this Deanery of Breckland remembering all the clergy and lay people. We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all who work with them in the various departments of the Diocese. We pray for other Christian denominations who meet in this area and for all the churches in this Benefice. Deepen our appreciation of your truth and fill us with your life.

Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep, recover the straggler, bind up the injured, strengthen the sick. We pray for all those still affected by the corona virus in any way. For those still recovering, those who have lost loved ones, those whose lives have been changed by loss of work, loss of home or failure of their businesses. We pray also for those struggling to cope because of depression or the increase of other mental health symptoms. We pray for the residents of Thorp House and their staff. Today our prayers are asked for ……

Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Jesus, the resurrection and the life, we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you and we remember especially today Malcolm Cock whose funeral takes place on 4th May. Lord, we pray that you would be gracious to those who mourn his passing. Raise us with him to eternal life.

Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,

“Peace be with you”.

Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Living God,

your Son made himself known to his disciples

in the breaking of bread:

open the eyes of our faith,

that we may see him in all his redeeming work,

who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen

The Blessing:

The God of peace

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

that great shepherd of the sheep,

make you perfect in every good work to do his will …..

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Sunday 24th April - 2nd Sunday of Easter

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 12:43:36 GMT

Sunday 24th April - 2nd Sunday of Easter

Second Sunday of Easter 24th April 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 2nd Sunday of Easter

Almighty Father,

you have given your only Son to die for our sins

and to rise again for our justification:

grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness

that we may always serve you

in pureness of living and truth;

through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Acts 5: 27-32

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Revelation 1: 4-8

4 John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”

and “every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him”;

and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”

So shall it be! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John 20: 19-31

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Homily:

Our gospel passage today spans a week beginning on the evening of the first Easter Sunday. It follows on from last Sunday’s Gospel where Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden. We read there that after he had spoken her name, his first instruction to her was to go and find the disciples and tell them that he had risen from the dead and would be going to back to the Father. The gospels tell us that Mary went and faithfully delivered her message to the disciples but they did not believe her. The witness of women was never given much credence at that time.

So, that same evening we find the disciples locked away in an upper room, terrified that the Jewish authorities might come knocking on the door to arrest them at any moment. We think that the room they were hiding in was probably the one used for the Last Supper because we know that house belonged to a follower – possibly the mother of Mark who wrote the gospel. Although the door was locked, Jesus appeared. The reading mentions twice that the doors were either locked or shut almost to emphasise to us that Jesus’ resurrection body was different from an earthly body. He could just pass through doors and walls. He could be with them and then just fade away. In the same way St John explains that when the stone was rolled away from the tomb, the grave clothes had not been torn away from Jesus. They were just lying where they had been covering his body. They were as if the body had just passed through them leaving them intact.

That kind of presence which can come and go, which was Jesus but somehow was not totally recognizable was probably something which added to rather than calmed the disciples’ fears that evening. It was important to show them that the Master they knew had really risen from the dead as he told them he would. First of all, he spoke to them. Just as Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus when he spoke her name, the disciples must have begun to relax when he said, “Peace be with you”. That was the Eastern way of saying “Good evening” or “Hello”. It was familiar. Then he showed them the nail marks in his hands and the gash caused by the soldier’s spear in his side. At that point, they knew that it really was Jesus.

Sometime later, Thomas returned to the group. You can imagine: they were all full of seeing Jesus and talking about touching him and hearing his words of commission to them. Thomas earned the title even to this day of “Doubting Thomas” because he says basically “well, I don’t believe it and I won’t believe it unless I see Jesus and touch those wounds for myself”. Thomas was looking for evidence and proof. I think that far from being “Doubting Thomas,” he shows great courage in not just going along with the group but wanting to see and touch for himself. In fact, why was Thomas not with the disciples that evening? Where was he? He was the only one brave enough to be out of hiding with the rest of them.

We don’t hear of Thomas very much in the Bible and only in St John’s gospel. The first time he is mentioned is when Jesus and the disciples hear that Lazarus has died and they do not wish to travel back to Judaea. It is Thomas who says: “let us go that we might die with him” (John 11:16). Pessimistic or brave? Later, again in John’s gospel, Jesus tells his followers that he is going away to prepare a heavenly home for them. They must all have been thinking; “what is he talking about? What home? Where is he going? It is Thomas who asks the question. He’s like the child in class who summons up the courage to ask what all the others want to know but are too scared to ask. “Lord, we don’t know where you are going” he says, “how can we know the way?” the question enables Jesus to make one of the greatest claims of his life: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”.

So, Thomas does get his moment. On the second occasion that Jesus comes, he invites him to see and touch. The Bible doesn’t tell us whether he does but immediately he proclaims Jesus as his Lord. Again, by that exclamation Thomas has opened up the way for Jesus to say something profound - to us his present day followers this time. He says that all those who are to come later will have to believe without seeing and touching Jesus in the flesh. They will have to rely on the witness of people like Thomas. He calls us blessed that we can believe by faith not by sight.

Tradition tells us that the disciples eventually divided up the world amongst them and they travelled witnessing to people and baptizing in the name of Jesus. We know quite a bit from the Acts of the Apostles of the travels of Peter, Paul, Mark and Barnabas but little about the rest of the disciples. There is a book called the gospel of Thomas which did not make it into the New Testament that tells of Thomas journeying to India and spreading the gospel there. There are churches in India today which attribute their existence to Thomas. Like nearly all the apostles he was eventually martyred for his faith.

We all have doubts. We can all be pessimistic at times. Thomas shows us that it is ok to have doubts and be pessimistic. He also shows us what is possible when we acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives.

Intercessions:

Father, we praise you for the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ from the dead. Shed his glorious light on all Christian people throughout the world that we may live as those who believe in the triumph of the cross. We pray for our Group of Parishes: for all our homes and places of work and leisure. For our schools and Thorp House. We pray for this church and Katharine and the PCC who make decisions about the day to day running of it. We pray for our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who at this season are receiving in baptism your Son’s new life by water and the Spirit. We pray specially for those in our group of parishes preparing for their wedding this summer and for those who have already been baptized or married in our churches in the past few months.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our world, particularly for areas of conflict and peoples subject to unjust rulers. We remember the people of Ukraine at this time.

We pray for those whom we know and love both near and far. For those whom we have been in contact with during the Easter holiday and for those we are planning to see in the near future. May we and all who we meet be open to see the glory of the risen Lord in our lives.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who suffer pain and anguish and we remember all those in hospital at this time and those who are recovering at home. We bring to God all those who we know who are in need of prayer, particularly today…….

Grant them faith to reach out towards the healing wounds of Christ and be filled with his peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember before you those who have died in the hope of the resurrection. We pray for those who have recently died and whose services have taken place in our churches. Particularly today we pray for Malcolm Cock who died this past week. Unite us with them in your undying love.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Join our voices, we pray Lord our God to the songs of all your saints in proclaiming that you give us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,

“Peace be with you”.

Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord God our Father,

through our Saviour Jesus Christ

you have assured your children of eternal life

and in baptism have made us one with him:

deliver us from the death of sin

and raise us to new life in your love,

in the fellowship of the Holy spirit,

by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

The Blessing:

The God of peace

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

that great shepherd of the sheep,

make you perfect in every good work to do his will …..

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Easter Sunday 17th April 2022

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 07:23:53 GMT

Easter Sunday 17th April 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Easter Day

Lord of all life and power,

who through the mighty resurrection of

your Son

overcame the old order of sin and death

to make all things new in him:

grant that we, being dead to sin

and alive to you in Jesus Christ,

may reign with him in glory;

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

be praise and honour, glory and might,

now and in all eternity. Amen

Readings:

Acts 10: 34-43

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

1 Corinthians 15: 19-26

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the first-fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

John 20: 1-18

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Homily:

The First Good Friday ended in quite a lot of rush and confusion. From the time scale set by the Gospels, we know that Jesus died at around 3pm. He had asked for a drink and the soldiers had soaked a sponge in some really cheap wine and balancing it on a hyssop stalk had given it up to Jesus so that he could drink. Jesus took a drink, then said: “it is finished” and he died. The Romans might have been in control of the execution of Jesus and the two thieves who died with him but no Roman would dream of interfering with the religious practices of the Jews whom they had been sent to keep in order. 3pm was almost the end of the Jewish day. Jewish days began and ended at 6pm. So, at 6pm it would be the Sabbath and we know that on the Sabbath there were very strict rules about work and what constituted work. As well as all this, the Jews would be considered unclean if they touched a dead body and this would mean that anyone who had contact with a body could not observe the Sabbath. The punishment for Jesus and the thieves was to be crucified until they were dead, so in the chapter before our Gospel passage today, we see Jewish leaders going to Pilate and asking him to ensure that the criminals are dead by breaking their legs. Crucifixion was a death which occurred through asphixiation as the person constantly had to push themselves up to relieve the pressure in their chest in order to breathe. Breaking their legs of course made this pushing up impossible.

Then we see Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both disciples, who had not until that point really come out into the open, going to Pilate and asking for Jesus’ body and burying it with as much ceremony as they were able to manage with only a short time to go before the sabbath began. Our Gospel today begins with Mary Magdalene and, we know from other Gospels, two or three other women going to the tomb to continue with the Jewish burial practices. The sabbath was over and so they could go to anoint the body. When she got there, however, all thoughts of anointing Jesus’ body were forgotten as they found the huge stone used to block the tomb’s entrance already rolled away and the body gone.

Mary instantly ran off to find the disciples to tell them. At that point she was sure that someone has stolen Jesus’ body. Peter and John returned with her and they did not really understand what had happened and so just returned to Jerusalem where all the disciples were hiding out because they were afraid that the same fate would befall them as befell Jesus. It is when Mary was left alone at the empty tomb that she met the Risen Jesus and learned of the call on her life. She was to tell the others that Jesus had risen from the dead.

There was once a man around 100 years ago whose name was Albert Henry Ross. He was an atheist and decided to write a book to prove that the Resurrection did not happen and so the whole of the claim of Christianity was a lie. He took the pen-name Frank Morrison. His book is a very detailed account of what he saw as problems with the resurrection account. For example, he suggested that the disciples could have come and stolen the body of Jesus out of the tomb and buried it somewhere else. He also suggested that Jesus was not really dead when he was taken down from the cross. He had just become unconscious due to the heat and loss of blood. Morrison suggested that when he was put in the cold tomb he would have revived. So, how did he move that huge stone from the inside or how come no disciple ever confessed to moving Jesus’ body when all but one of them was tortured and martyred for their faith. You might expect one of them to admit to it all being a lie.

Morrison did an immense amount of research but in the end, he could not convince himself and he became a Christian. The book he wrote explains rather than explains away the resurrection and it is called: “Who Moved the Stone?”

No one has been able to explain away the change that came over the disciples after they met the Risen Lord. From being terrified and hiding in the upper room of the Last supper, they were able to stand up in synagogues as we read of Peter doing in our first reading today. They went on missionary journeys to places they had never heard of and were able to preach and heal and drive out demons just like Jesus had done in his earthly life. These for the most part were ordinary men and women who were not very educated but in the power of the Holy Spirit they were able to do wonders. In the end they all went to their deaths believing in the power of Jesus and refusing to deny him.

Christianity is the only religion which claims that God Himself came to earth as a human being, lived a life without sin, was eventually killed and three days later rose again. It is the only religion where its founder and leader is in fact God himself. This fact gives tremendous power to ordinary everyday Christian such as we are. The whole of his supernatural ability to heal is at our disposal when we meet people who are broken by the circumstances of life and don’t know which way to turn. We believe in a living God who can and does change the circumstances of our world. A God who can bring peace to Ukraine and can heal our loved ones when they fall sick. A God who is active in our world not passive and uninvolved or disinterested.

Intercessions:

In joy and hope, let us pray to the Father:

That our risen Saviour may fill us, our families, friends and all those who live in this Benefice with the joy of his glorious and life-giving resurrection. We pray for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops and for all Christians in this Diocese meeting to praise God today. We pray for the work and witness of our Cathedral and for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops.

We pray to the Father, Lord in your mercy:

Hear our prayer.

That isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter. Lord, we stand alongside and pray to you for our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world who are being tortured for their faith in you, today. We pray for your justice and an end to suffering.

We pray to the Father, Lord in your mercy:

Hear our prayer.

That God may grant us humility to be subject to one another in Christian love. Lord, we pray for all the homes in this area where there is separation and strife. We ask for your uniting love to be within the families and across the generations.

We pray to the Father, Lord in your mercy:

Hear our prayer

That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter. We pray, Lord, at this time for those whose lives are still being changed by Covid and that adequate provision will be made available for all those now suffering as a result of increases in prices for essential services. We pray for the Prime Minister and members of parliament in their decision-making and for all local councillors.

We pray to the Father, Lord in your mercy:

Hear our prayer.

That by his power war and famine may cease through all the world. We pray, Lord, for the people of Ukraine and Russia and all other trouble spots in the world; for all soldiers and those providing protection at a cost to their personal safety.

We pray to the Father, Lord in your mercy:

Hear our prayer

That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick, the weak and the dying, to comfort and strengthen them. We pray today particularly for …..

We pray to the Father, Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

That according to his promises, all who have died in the faith of the resurrection may be raised on the last day. We remember our own family and friends and all who have lost loved ones recently.

We pray to the Father, Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us

into the kingdom of your Son: grant that, as his death has recalled us to life, so

his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy: through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,

“Peace be with you”.

Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God of life

who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son

to the death of the cross,

and by his glorious resurrection

have delivered us from the power of our enemy:

grant us so to die daily to sin,

that we may evermore live with him in the

joy of his risen life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

God the Father,

by whose love Christ was raised from the dead,

open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life …..

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Stations of the Cross, Good Friday 15th April 2022

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 06:30:21 GMT

Stations of the Cross, Good Friday 15th April 2022

Travel with us around our churches remembering Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem

THE COLLECT FOR GOOD FRIDAY

Almighty God,

look with mercy on this your family

for which our Lord Jesus Christ was

content to be betrayed and given up into

the hands of sinners and to suffer death

upon a cross;

who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit,

One God now and for ever. Amen

Thompson 11am: Injustice

John 19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.

Let us pray:

Most gracious God and Father whose will is our peace, turn our hearts and the hearts of all to yourself, that by the power of your Spirit the peace which is founded on justice may be established throughout the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Griston 11.30am: Abuse of Power

7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Caston 12 noon:

Alone

15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

Let us pray:

Lord God of Abraham, bless the children of your covenant, both Jew and Christian; take from us al blindness and bitterness of heart, that God will grant us grace to be faithful to his covenant and to grow in the love of his name. Amen

Stow Bedon 2pm: Companionship

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Let us pray:

Merciful God, creator of all the people of the earth, have compassion on all who do not know you, and by the preaching of your gospel with grace and power, gather them into the one fold of the one Shepherd: Christ our Lord. Amen

Breckles 2.30pm: Fulfilment

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, the comfort of the sad, the strength of those who suffer: hear the prayers of your children who cry out of any trouble, and to every distressed soul grant mercy, relief and refreshment, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(You could name anyone you know who is in need of our prayers)

Great Hockham 3pm: Confidence

35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” 38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Let us pray:

Let us commend ourselves and all God’s children to his unfailing love, and pray for the grace of a holy life, that with all who have died in the peace of Christ, we may come to the fullness of eternal life and the joy of the resurrection. Amen

(You could remember anyone from among your family and friends has died)

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light

look favourably on your whole church,

that wonderful and sacred mystery,

and by the tranquil operation of your perpetual providence

carry out the work of our salvation:

and let the whole world feel and see

that things that were cast down are being raised up

and things which have grown old are being made new

and that all things are returning to perfection

through him from whom they took their origin,

even Jesus Christ our Lord

who is alive and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Palm Sunday: 10th April 2022

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 09:48:42 GMT

Palm Sunday: 10th April 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Hosanna to the Son of David.

Blessed is who comes in the name of the Lord.

Blessing over the palm crosses (please let us know if you would like a palm cross delivered to you):

God our Saviour, whose Son Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as a Messiah to suffer death and to die, let this palm be for us a sign of his victory; and grant that we who bear the palm + in his name may ever hail him as King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The Greeting

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gloria

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen.

Collect for Palm Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God

who in your tender love towards the human race

sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

to take upon him our flesh

and to suffer death upon the cross:

grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,

and also be made partakers of his resurrection;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 50. 4-9a

The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue,

to know the word that sustains the weary.

He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears;

I have not been rebellious,

I have not turned away.

6 I offered my back to those who beat me,

my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;

I did not hide my face

from mocking and spitting.

7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,

I will not be disgraced.

Therefore have I set my face like flint,

and I know I will not be put to shame.

8 He who vindicates me is near.

Who then will bring charges against me?

Let us face each other!

Who is my accuser?

Let him confront me!

9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.

Who will condemn me?

They will all wear out like a garment;

the moths will eat them up.

Philippians 2. 5-11

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Luke 22:14-23:56

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” 35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.” 54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. 63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” 70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. 13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 17 18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

A Litany of Intercession for Palm Sunday

Almighty God, as we approach Holy Week and reflect on Christ’s passion, may we truly understand the sacrifice he made for us.

We pray for the leaders of our church - Bishops Graham, Alan and Jane and all the clergy of the Diocese.

We pray for all six churches in this Benefice and for all those who are preparing for Baptism or Marriage at this time.

We pray for our Christian witness amongst our neighbours and friends.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We think of Christ the servant- in the words of St. Ignatius:

Holy God, teach us to be generous.

Teach us to serve you as you deserve;

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labour and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that we do your will. We pray that the church may always be the ‘Servant Church’.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We think of Christ at prayer while his disciples slept:

Holy God, we recognize that sometimes we put off prayer and thanksgiving as we give way to our human frailty.

We thank you for those who pray and intercede on our behalf both in heaven and here on earth.

We remember those in monasteries and all members of religious orders who live a life of prayer, poverty, and obedience.

We thank them for their prayers.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We think of Christ betrayed by a kiss and by denial:

Holy God, help us never to abandon someone in their time of greatest need.

Help us to forgive those who have wounded and abandoned us in times of crisis. Cleanse our hearts from bitterness and resentment so we can be more like Jesus, who was abandoned and betrayed by those closest to him.

We pray for those isolated at home and who feel abandoned from family and friends because of the pandemic.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We think of Christ falsely tried, tortured and executed:

Merciful God, we pray today for those held and tried falsely by corrupt regimes knowing they have no hope of justice. We pray particularly for the people of Ukraine.

We remember all prisoners, especially those enduring inhumane conditions and in fear of execution.

Be with them in the darkness of their cells, in the loneliness of separation and in their fear.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We think of Christ’s compassion despite receiving none himself.

Loving God we pray for all who bring comfort, care and healing, especially our Health Services bravely caring for those in need in this worldwide crisis.

We pray for the sick, the sorrowful, those who have recently died and those who have been bereaved.

We remember all our loved ones in a time of quiet

We pray particularly today for …….

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Holy God, as we move into Holy Week, we commend ourselves and all those with whom we live for whom Christ suffered, to your mercy and protection.

Merciful Father

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace

Christ is our peace

He has reconciled us to God in once body by the cross.

We meet in his name and share his peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

and also with you

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass again us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,

you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant,

and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation:

give us the mind to follow you

and to proclaim you as Lord and King,

to the glory of God the Father. Amen

The Blessing

Christ crucified draw you to himself, to find in him a sure ground for faith,

a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

In the name of Christ: Amen

Lent 5 - 3rd April

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 09:56:58 GMT

Lent 5: 3rd April 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect – Lent 5

Most Merciful God,

who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ

delivered and saved the world:

grant that by faith in him who suffered on the Cross

we may triumph in the power of his victory;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 43: 16-21

16 This is what the LORD says—

he who made a way through the sea,

a path through the mighty waters,

17 who drew out the chariots and horses,

the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

18 “Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

20 The wild animals honour me,

the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people I formed for myself

that they may proclaim my praise.

Philippians 3: 4b-14

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Luke 11: 5-13

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Homily:

Today we reach the final of the “Stories Jesus Told” in our Lent series: The Persistent Friend. In the East in those days, travellers often journeyed late into the night to avoid the heat of the midday sun. In Jesus’ story, a traveller had arrived approaching midnight at a friend’s house. In the East, hospitality was, and still is, a sacred duty. It was not enough to give a visitor the bare minimum: we might say: just a cheese sandwich. The visitor had to be given a feast and as bread was the staple diet, the meals always had some kind of bread served with them. In the villages, bread was baked at home. Only enough for the day’s needs was baked because the daily temperature and the climate meant that it would go stale very quickly and no one wanted to eat stale bread.

The late arrival of our traveller put the householder in an embarrassing situation because he had no bread and so he could not fulfil the sacred obligations of hospitality. Late as it was, he had to do something to rectify the situation, so he went out to borrow from a friend. The friend’s door was shut. No one would knock on a closed door unless it was a dire emergency. In the morning, all the doors were opened and stayed open all day; there was very little privacy. If the door was shut, it was a definite sign to all that the householder did not wish to be disturbed. The man who had no bread was not to be deterred, however, and he knocked and went on knocking, no doubt creating a lot of noise for the whole neighbourhood.

A poor Palestinian home consisted of one room with only one tiny window. The floor was the earth covered with dried reeds and rushes. The room was divided in two by a low platform. On the raised part, a charcoal fire burned all night and round it the whole family slept on sleeping mats on the floor. Families were large and they slept close together for warmth. Just imagine that this family has a new baby and they have only just got him and the rest of the children off to sleep and someone is knocking the door down. In order to answer the door, the householder has to climb over everyone else and risk all the children waking up again. The persistent friend does, however win through in the end and he borrows the bread in order to give his visitor a good meal and be the perfect host he is compelled to be.

Jesus says that this parable teaches us something about prayer. The lesson is not that we must persist in prayer, although in other places in the Bible it says that we should. the lesson is that just as the unwilling householder can in the end be coerced into giving by his friend’s persistent knocking, how much more will God, who is a loving Father, supply all our needs when we ask. He will not give a serpent when we ask for fish. He will not give a scorpion when we ask for an egg.

When we pray, we are not trying to persuade an unwilling God to answer our requests. We approach Someone who knows us better than we know ourselves (not difficult!) whose heart for us is one of generous love. If we do not receive what we pray for, it is not because God has a grudge against us and refuses to give it to us but because he has something better in mind for us. This parable tells us that there is no unanswered prayer. The answer may not be what we want or expect but even when the answer is “no”, the answer is the love and wisdom of God for us.

One day, when Jesus had finished praying, one of his disciples asked him to teach them to pray. It was the custom for a Rabbi to teach his disciples a simple prayer that they could learn by heart and use all the time. It was the Lord’s prayer that Jesus taught them of course and Luke’s version of the prayer is immediately before the story of the Persistent Friend. Luke’s version is a bit shorter than the one we find in Matthew:

This is the NIV version:

Father,

Hallowed be your name,

Your Kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

It’s a really simple prayer that covers all we need to say to God. We teach it to our children. It begins by calling God “Father”. A good Father is someone who showers love on his children, wants to spend time with them and give them gifts. We focus on our Heavenly Father before we ask for anything for ourselves. The rest of the prayer covers the whole of life. It tells us to pray for our present needs: our daily bread – those concerns on our hearts today, for ourselves, our friends and family and our world. The prayer also covers past sin. When we talk to our Almighty Father, we cannot but remember that we are not worthy to speak to him and we then say sorry for the things we have done wrong and know that we are forgiven. Finally, the future. We pray for the trials we must face: those situations where we are challenged by the attitudes of others or by how we behave. When we share what we know we have to deal with, we begin to see how we might behave more like God would behave in the situation.

We can use the Lord’s prayer at the beginning of our prayers in order for God to help us know how we should be praying. We can use it at the end, as we do in Church, to sum up our prayers. We can feel that our own prayers are inadequate sometimes. If we use the prayer that Jesus himself taught, we have a framework for how we might spend some time in relationship with a Father who wants us to talk to him and wants to answer our prayers.

Intercessions

God is present with us now.

Let us bring him our prayers and concerns

For the Church and for the world.

Loving God, breathe your life into the Church,

so that we speak your love to the world

and are willing to suffer and prepared for sacrifice.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops

and all clergy and people as they prepare for Holy Week.

We pray for this Church and its witness to the community here.

We pray for Jamie and the PCC as they make decisions about their church life together.

We pray for our Benefice: the schools in Caston, Thompson and Great Hockham and Thorp House.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Loving God, breathe your peace into the world,

so that we work together co-operatively,

sensitive to one another’s needs and differences.

We pray for all the leaders of the nations

We pray for those nations where there is war and discontent at present.

We pray in particular for Ukraine and Afghanistan, for all those fleeing their homes and for all those involved in fighting to maintain their land and livelihoods.

We pray for our Prime Minister and government.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer .

Loving God, breathe your patience and forgiveness

into our homes and all our relationships,

so that we learn to cherish and respect one another

and act with generosity.

We pray for all our families and friends and those we meet as we go about our everyday lives.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Loving God, breathe your encouragement

into every suffering and every sadness,

so that the painful and dark times

become places of strong spiritual growth.

We pray particularly for ……..

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Loving God, breathe your welcome

deep into the souls of the dying,

so that death is only the door

leading to the joy of eternal life with you.

We pray for Derek Heath who died this past week.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Loving God breath your grace

into our knowing and our feeling

so that we rejoice each step of the way.

Merciful Father

Accept our prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen.

The Peace

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass again us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

The power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ

you have taught us

that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters

we do also for you:

give us the will to be the servant of others

as you were the servant of all,

and gave up your life and died for us,

but are alive and reign, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing:

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross,

and follow him;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Lent 4

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:12:42 GMT

Lent 4: 27th March 2022 Mothering Sunday

* ** This morning, our service will be conducted by Revd Adrian Bell. Welcome back,Adrian and thank you for your homily about the Prodigal Son.

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect – Lent 4

Merciful Lord,

you know our struggles to serve you:

when sin spoils our lives

and overshadows our hearts,

come to our aid

and turn us back to you again;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Readings:

Joshua 5: 9-12

9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

2 Corinthians 5: 16-21

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Luke 15: 1-3, 11-end

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 11“There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Homily:

Today brings back lots of memories of diving off to the shop buy some flowers for my mother, and also going to church to reluctantly receive a posy of flowers from the Vicar to take home. But I don’t ever remember having Simnel cake which I understand will be served after the church service.

What is the significance of a Simnel cake? Simnel cake has been eaten since medieval times. It is a fruit cake is topped with eleven marzipan balls to represent the eleven apostles of Christ, minus Judas.

So, you can break your fast today.

Joy has given me one of the most well-known parables in the Bible to talk about -The Prodigal Son - as part of her series of talks during Lent. It fits in well with Mothering Sunday because it all about family life.

Immediately when I think of St. Luke’s parable of the Prodigal Son, I think of the great painting by Rembrandt bought by Empress Catherine the Great which now hangs in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

It was painted in the 17th Century by the Dutch painter Rembrandt during the last 2 years of his life and is one of the most moving paintings the world has ever known. It depicts a very caring and passionate father greeting his long lost and much-loved son whilst his brother and servants look on.

It is a painting for a study group to look at and ponder over and realise the importance of family life, and also the immense love of God.

Having an older brother, and two sons and three grandsons I know all about sibling rivalry which can be good at times but can be destructive. But the parable centres on the younger brother who wants to ignore all Jewish Law and ask for his inheritance before his father has died.

The Jewish law came from Moses, and the division of property was unfair as far as we would judge by today’s standards because the older brother inherited far more than the younger but only when his father died. So, very generously, the father gives his younger son part of his wealth whilst he is alive knowing that the rest of his wealth will eventually go to the older brother.

The Parable give details about how the younger son spends his money much in line with William Hogarth’s Rake’s Progress. The money soon goes.

There is no doubt that brothers differ. At the age of 21, my brother and I inherited money from our late grandparents. My brother went off and bought a sports car which was eventually stolen in Hyde Park underground car park, and I invested it knowing that soon I would be a curate on very little income and would need to set myself up. Who was right? I do not know.

The key to the parable is not about wealth but it is about forgiveness. After a long time, the prodigal son returns broke and bruised and no doubt ashamed, and during that time he has been away, his father and no doubt his mother have been waiting and watching for his return.

This parable is a story for all of us. A good family will always have their arms open to help and support those in their family with difficulties. It is not always easy, but I am sure that many Ukrainian families have already seen their older children set off to fight for their country and they will be waiting for news of their return. You never stop being a parent or worrying as you all know.

The Parable tells us that the love of God for us has no bounds. At the last moment of our lives, we can say ’sorry’ and we will be welcomed home. My prayer is that the religious leaders in the world and especially in Russia may encourage all those involved to come together and start again and try to help those who have been affected by the war. We must pray that Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, will listen to his many priests and nuns, and some of his people, who oppose the war in Ukraine.

The Prodigal Son is a parable for Mothering Sunday, for family life and for our world. God reaches out to us all during this time as we prepare for Easter. My prayer is that when we all come together on Easter Day, in whatever church, that the war in Ukraine will have finished and gradually the trail of refugees will be coming home to pick up whatever of their lives is left for them.

Intercessions

As we gather together

in the presence of our Father God,

let us pray.

Loving Father, we pray

for all who are persecuted for their faith,

and for whom following you brings danger.

We pray for those who are new to the faith

and those who no longer walk with you.

We thank you for the example of those

whose faith shines out in their lives.

We pray today for our Mother Church in this land and in this diocese

and Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Loving Father, we pray

for those who are forced to leave their homes,

their families or their countries.

We pray for those who, through war and famine,

must watch their children die.

We pray for refugees in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

We pray for peace and comfort.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Loving Father, we pray

for all the mothering which goes on in this community

and for those who crave tenderness

and are weary of the struggle to be strong.

We pray for all those who live within the boundaries of this Benefice

and all who serve the needs of other sin our six churches.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Loving Father, we pray

for all new parents and their babies,

and all giving birth today.

We pray for all who are vulnerable,

that they may be protected from harm.

We pray for the sick or those in any other kind of need, particularly ………

Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer

Loving Father, we pray for those

whose mothers have died,

and are still remembered with great affection.

We pray for all mothers and grandmothers,

and those without children who have mentored the young.

We rejoice in all they give or have given,

and commend them to your protection for ever.

Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer

Loving Father, we give you thanks

for the comfort you provide in all our troubles,

and for the richness of all our relationships.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Peace

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass again us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

The power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord God,

whose blessed Son our Saviour

gave his back to the smiters

and did not hide his face from shame:

give us grace to endure the sufferings of this present time

with sure confidence in the glory that shall be revealed;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross,

and follow him;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Lrent 3 - 20th March

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 16:01:01 GMT

Lent 3: 20th March 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect – Lent 3
Eternal God, give us insight
to discern your will for us,
to give up what harms us,
and to seek the perfection we are promised
in Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

Readings:
Isaiah 55: 1-9
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labour on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
    listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
    my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
    a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
    and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the LORD your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendour.”
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 10: 1-13
10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Luke 8: 4-15
4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Homily:

Today we reach the third story in our Lent series of Stories Jesus Told. And it concerns seeds. Now when I look at the tiny, black specks you normally find in a packet of flower seeds I find it difficult to believe that when I provide a few basic necessities like warmth, water and light they will grow into the most beautiful flowers. I think that all that potential hidden in a tiny speck shows the miracle of God’s creation.

Jesus gathered a crowd around him and he began to tell them a story. It may have been that when he stood up to speak, his eye was caught by a Sower in the distance somewhere sowing seed on his land. And it was not as simple in those days as opening the packet and sowing the seeds. There was no modern machinery to ensure that as much seed as possible covered the fields which had been carefully prepared to give as much chance as possible for there to be a good crop. Jesus talks about the hazards of sowing and uses them to enhance the story.

The common ground in Palestine at that time was split into long narrow strips and between the strips there were paths which were in fact rights of way. When the seed fell on those paths, which had been beaten as hard as a road, the seed stood no chance of growing and was often taken and eaten by the birds. Then there was ground which was basically a very thin layer of soil over deep rock. The seed that landed there could not put down roots in order to reach nourishment or water, so it very quickly withered and died. Then there was the seed which fell among thorns. We know from our own gardening, we can make the ground look good by raking it over and removing the surface weeds but if we leave strong weeds under the surface, weeds and seeds will grow up together and the seeds can get choked by the stronger weeds. Thankfully the Palestinian Sower had some seed which fell on to ground that was well prepared and had the conditions necessary for a good crop.

So, what was Jesus talking about? He tells us in this parable. The seeds are the Word of God. Words are interesting things. Have you ever had the situation where what you thought you said to someone was not in fact what they heard? Those of us who sit on committees can be surprised by what comes out in the Minutes of meetings either because we think we heard something different or the Secretary heard something different and recorded it. Our words also have the potential to cause a reaction we did not intend in people. Some of us will still remember words used by people in authority such as parents and teachers to us or about us. Those words can still have an emotional affect today. I always remember the first teacher I had in Secondary school who taught me French. In the beginning I did not like French or maybe I just didn’t like the teacher. Whatever it was, I can still recall her handing back my homework and saying in a very thick French accent: “You are very lazy”. The affect it had on me was that when, a year later, I had the Head Teacher for French, I made sure I did all my homework and learnt all that French Vocabulary because I did not want that to happen again and certainly not with the Head Teacher who possibly had more power to cure my laziness.

Jesus says that our words are like seeds. In the right conditions they will bring growth to a friendship or family relationship or enable people to re-evaluate a situation. To show me up in front of all my classmates and call me lazy certainly did not help me to complete all my homework for that particular teacher. I never liked her that much after that comment. The positive affect it had was that later I thought things through and realized that I needed to conform a bit more if I was going to stay out of trouble.
Sometimes the ground that the seed is sown into has not been prepared properly, either by ourselves or others and then our words fall where the seeds cannot grow. The seed that falls on the hard path stands for word which falls on deaf ears because that person is prevented from taking the words on board for some reason. Those parents amongst you will remember trying to give advice to children who always thought that they knew the right way to do things and so were deaf to anything you might have said. Maybe when they had time to think later or were a bit older they realized that what you were saying was true.

The seed that falls amongst thorns represents the words which can get crowded out by busyness. A friend and I love to catch up over coffee and then we pray together about the concerns we have spoken about. Last week, we almost did not get together because we were both busy with what were very important things for us to do. But eventually after a to-ing and fro-ing of messages we agreed to put those aside for a couple of hours and like always our time together helped us to see more clearly about our own individual lives and the friendship we share. And all the work still got done. The seed that falls on the rocky ground represents where relationships do not grow because we do not spend time looking at what they mean to us and we allow them to die, maybe after a fall out or a comment where we get hurt. Or maybe we just become complacent and don’t work at them.

Seeds are incredibly resilient, however. Those little specks in the packet, do grow most of the time with very little encouragement. My own poor gardening skills are testament to that. Using a word of encouragement here and there and speaking a word of love from time to time will before long create a better atmosphere: in a difficult neighbour or a family member. As we sow seeds, we begin to reap the harvest. As we approach the second half of Lent, let us continue looking for opportunities to speak hope into the situations of our world and into the lives of the people we meet.

Intercessions
As God has called us,
so we come to pray.

We pray for the Church, the Body of Christ,
with all its collected gifts and weaknesses;
give us grace to recognize
that in your Spirit we are one,
and curb in us all tendency to division.
We pray for our Bishops Graham, Alan and Jane
and for this church of St Margaret.
We pray for Karen and the PCC as it makes decisions and plans events.
We pray for our Benefice and for all homes, places of work and schools.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the world in all its beauty and richness;
give us the desire
to share our planet’s food and resources,
to care for its people’s well-being,
and to foster peace and justice for all.
We pray for the world’s leaders and continue to pray for peace in Ukraine.
We pray for our Prime Minister and for our government’s response to the growing crisis.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for those we love
those we see each day and those we miss;
help us to cherish one another
As we live the loving way of your commands.
We pray for our neighbours and those we meet as we go about our daily lives.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

We pray for all victims of selfish or violent acts,
and for those whose lives are trapped in sin.
We pray for all whose bodies and minds have difficulty functioning.
Make us more sensitive to their needs.
Particularly today we pray for ……..
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

We pray for those who have died
And for those who miss their physical presence.
Have mercy on them;
may they and we in our turn,
rest in the peace of your love.
We pray for the family and friends of Betty Mildred Burlingham whose funeral took place last week.
Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks
For the loving example of Jesus,
who was obedient even to death
and strengthens us in all goodness

Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Peace
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass again us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Merciful Lord,
grant your people grace to withstand the temptations
of the world, the flesh and the devil,
and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

The Blessing:
Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross,
and follow him;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Lent 2: 13th March 2022

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 10:26:37 GMT

Lent 2: 13th March 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect – Lent 2

Almighty God,

by the prayer and discipline of Lent

may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,

and by following in his Way

come to share in his glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Readings:

Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18

15 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,

your very great reward.”

2 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” 8 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” 9 So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—

Philippians 3:17- 4:1

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Luke 6:46-49

The Wise and Foolish Builders

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

Homily:

This story of the wise and foolish builders comes at the end of Chapter 6 in St Luke’s gospel where a lot of Jesus’ teaching has been gathered together. We have the Sermon on the Plain as it is known in Luke as opposed to the Sermon on the Mount of St Matthew’s gospel. There are two incidents which took place on the Sabbath Day: the disciples getting hungry as they were walking through a cornfield and rubbing the grain together. This was seen as work and not allowed by the Jews on the Sabbath. The other thing not allowed was doing anything to promote healing from disease or accident. Jesus healed the man with the withered hand. Also within this chapter Jesus chose 12 apostles out of all the people who were following him and they are named.

So, we get to this story right at the end of the chapter. We have a wise man who carefully considers where he will build his house and he is safe from everything that bad weather storms and floods can throw at him because he has laid good foundations on rock: his house stands firm. A foolish man, however, decides to build a house without proper foundations and it soon collapses. Jesus is not really talking about houses of course. He is talking about the foundation we lay for our lives. He says that those who hear his words and put them into practice have a good foundation which will withstand the storms which will inevitably come. Those who hear but do not put those words into practice have no proper foundation when troubles come and will collapse, either temporarily or more permanently.

Continuing my school stories today. I was invited into Thompson school to talk to a class about the Bible and was asked to explain particularly why Christians view the Bible as sacred. What does the word “sacred” mean? So, this exercised my brain for a while. I could see that this lesson was probably part of a series about different religions and their sacred books. In fact, when I got there, they told me they had had a visit from a Rabbi and had learnt quite a lot about the Old Testament from her. Some people who have nothing to do with church or Christianity still seem to have a belief that there is something special about a Bible. I was in Swaffham church one day and a woman came in and said she wanted to see the Vicar. On unpacking this a bit more, she had apparently moved house and found a large family Bible in the attic and did not know what to do with it. Presumably, it had been left behind because the previous occupant did not know what to do with it. So, the lady thought that the Vicar would know what to do with it and take it off her hands. I don’t know what happened next. I don’t think that the Vicar of Swaffham has a stack of family Bibles.

The Old Testament was written by many different people at specific times in the history of the Jewish nation. The New Testament was again written by several people and specifically to tell the story of Jesus’ life and ministry and then how we should behave as followers of Jesus. Some Christians believe that every word of the Bible is inspired by God and written down as he dictated it. Others believe that it is a historical document, written for a day and time but large parts of it are not relevant to us now, And there are many shades of belief along this line.

The fact is, however, that the Bible is our sacred book and the teachings of Jesus have formed the backbone of our society for over two thousand years. Psalm 127: 1 also speaks about houses. It says: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” The words of the Bible, whether we believe that God wrote every one of them through his apostles and prophets or whether we believe that they were written for a specific day and time, still have the power to change our lives today. They are not just the foundation laid when we were children or teenagers in our Sunday school or confirmation class. Sacred means that when we read passages they have the power because they are inspired by God to speak to us today.

It's one way that people know they are called to be Ministers or Missionaries or know to move into specific areas of life. It’s how we know what direction to take in our lives and what decisions to make. As Christians, we believe that God is constantly at work in our lives speaking to us through our prayers and Bible reading. So, in Lent and at other times, people may decide to read through a book of the Bible or join in a discussion group. For those people who can use the internet, there are many organisations that are doing Lent courses or something as simple as a verse a day for us to think and pray about and we don’t even have to meet together. We can read them each or join in zoom groups. You only need to look at the Church of England site to find all sorts of things. Norwich Diocese has things going on too. Sometimes we need to put some extra discipline in our lives and deliberately search for what God has in store for each one of us individually. The church sets aside times within its yearly calendar like Lent for us to do that.

Just as we inspect our own houses from time to time to make sure that they are still holding up as they should, we should make sure that our lives are still built on the rock which is the Word of God.

Intercessions

Loving God, because we trust you,

we come to you now with our concerns

for the Church and the world.

We bring before you all those who find it hard to believe,

and hard to trust in a faithful loving God;

we bring those who teach the faith;

all who preach the good news.

Give the right words for each situation and each person,

and enable the seed to take root and grow.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all the clergy in this Deanery and Diocese as we journey through Lent together.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We bring those whose authority and decisions affect the lives of many people and the health of the planet.

We pray for sensitivity and honesty,

and the strength to retain integrity

even in positions of power.

We pray for all the leaders of the nations of the world.

At this time we continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and for all the agencies working to relieve suffering in that country.

We thank you for all the local initiatives being set up to collect supplies and we pray that they will all reach their destination and be able to be used by those in need.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We bring the newly born and their parents,

and all those whose family circumstances face change;

give us the spiritual flexibility

to adapt to your guiding in all our relationships,

and above all in our relationship with you.

We pray for Riva who was baptized last Sunday and for those preparing for Baptisms or Weddings in the churches in this Benefice in the next few months.

We pray for this Church and for Katharine and the PCC as they serve this parish and make decisions about future events.

We pray for our schools and Thorp House.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We bring all for whom illness or injury

has caused disruption, uncertainty

and the prospect of long-term change;

and all who find their lives are spinning

out of their control;

give them the knowledge

of your total loving and unchanging presence,

so that in all the changes and troubles of life

they may be assured of your everlasting protection.

Particularly today we pray for: ……..

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We commend to your love and mercy

all those who have made the journey through death,

especially any who have died unprepared,

or had violent deaths.

We thank you for your compassion on them

and pray that they may know the forgiveness,

peace and joy of heaven.

We give thanks for the lives of: Joyce Bishop, Peter Harold Smith and Betty Mildred Burlingham who have died recently and we pray for their families and friends who mourn them.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

As we call to mind the guidance and help

you give us each moment of every day,

We thank you and praise you, Holy God,

For you alone have the words of eternal life.

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Peace

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass again us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

The power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Almighty God,

you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves:

keep us both outwardly in our bodies,

and inwardly in our souls;

that we may be defended from all

adversities which may happen to the body,

and from all evil thoughts which may

assault and hurt the soul;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross,

and follow him;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Lent 1: 6th March 2022

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 10:16:01 GMT

Lent 1: 6th March 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect – Lent 1

Heavenly Father,

your Son battled with the powers of darkness,

and grew closer to you in the desert:

help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer

that we may be witness to your saving love

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Readings:

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

26 When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the first fruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labour. 7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.” Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.

Romans 10: 8b-13

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Luke 10:25-37

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Homily:

Today we begin a series of sermons for Lent based on the stories Jesus told, Today’s story is probably one of the best known in the New Testament: The Good Samaritan. So, my challenge had been to find something new to say about it. The first thing to look at is the background. We find a Teacher of the Law coming to Jesus with the intention of catching him out. So, he asks Jesus what he must do to attain eternal life. And Jesus, like all good teachers, turns the question back on him and says: “all right, you’re a lawyer, what does the law say?” The Lawyer is quick to respond because he has studied the law for many years. “Love God and love your neighbour as yourself”. And we imagine Jesus turning away, finished with the man as he says “That’s right, you got it”. But the man continues: “So, who is my neighbour?” The word used for neighbour in the Greek implies that it is someone close: physically or like him in some way, certainly a Jew.

So, Jesus tells a story set to change the thinking of this lawyer and anyone present. I told the story to the children at Caston school a few months ago and as I do, I had a few children acting out what I was saying. The easy bit was the child who got set upon by robbers and lay on the hall floor moaning and generally playing almost dead quite well. The ones who had the most fun were the robbers of course. The first person to arrive on the scene was the Vicar wearing one of my clerical collars. He very swiftly went on his way after taking a quick look at the poor man. Then came along a churchwarden (sorry Beryl!) who was swinging the church keys, off to open up for an important meeting. He looked at the man and then hurried off. My dilemma was who to choose for the third person who then arrived on the scene. In the end I chose the class bully who everyone disliked and who had even bullied our poor victim. The children got the point, I think. The one they least expected stopped and took care of the one who had been robbed.

Jesus’ hearers got the point too. Samaritans and Jews had long been sworn enemies. Some Jews had intermarried with women who were not believers and from that day they were called Samaritans and not allowed in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans resented this because they still saw themselves as Jews, so they attacked and destroyed parts of the Temple. The Jews in return attacked the Samaritan Holy Temple on Mount Gerazim. And so it went on. A Jew would be rendered unclean by touching a Samaritan who was classed with women as a group of people male Jews were not allowed to talk to in public.

So, it was a perceived enemy of the Jews who stopped and cared for the man who had been robbed. He put aside what he was planning to do that day in order to tend the man’s wounds and then take him to an inn and pay for him to be looked after. He also arranged for the innkeeper to continue his care and he agreed to pay the bill the next time he passed by. It would have been a shocking story for the lawyer and all the others who were listening in to Jesus. The thought that their neighbour was in fact the person they thought was their enemy.

The priest and the Levite were two people the Jews might have expected to help in this story. They both looked at the man and then went on their way. We see many awful situations of need on our computer screens, in our newspapers and on the TV. I read somewhere on Friday that a million people have left Ukraine since the Russians invaded, That’s a million more refugees trying to flee. Sometimes I can’t even look at the horror which is across our world – it is so terrible. The Samaritan was the one who not only looked, he got off his horse to help. Pity or compassion or whatever the feeling is when we look at an awful situation of need should turn to love in action. We all know what that is like. It’s about giving what we can afford to help, or spending some time in prayer asking for God’s intervention in these situations. It is about knitting for Afghan refugees and supporting the Fook Bank.

It is not always convenient or a short-term fix. I don’t expect the Samaritan thought he would have to use up his first aid supplies when he went on that journey that day. Or spend money he hadn’t budgeted for or go back to the inn which was out of his way to pay a bill for something he did not buy. Noticing a need can lead to us to being out of pocket and time and supplies. Jesus knew that the lawyer had the correct answer to his question. On Ash Wednesday we looked at the ten commandments and reminded ourselves of God’s instructions to us to keep them. The shortened version which the lawyer recited puts it all much more simply. Love God, love your neighbour, love yourself.

But it’s not really that simple. Loving requires action and that is where we all need to work out our own interpretation of what God wants of us as regards who our neighbours are and what we are called to do to show our practical concern for them. On one level the Christian faith is very easy but its practical outworking can be very demanding. This Lent we follow Jesus whose love in action for us all eventually led to him sacrificing his life.

Intercessions

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father:

for the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God,

and for the unity of all.

We pray for all trouble spots in the world and for all those who try to overthrow governments and take power by force. Particularly at this time we pray for Ukraine and its leaders and all of its people. We pray for an end to military warfare and a beginning to a peaceful existence.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops, for the leaders of our sister churches and for all clergy and people.

We pray for our Clergy Chapter in Breckland Deanery and Stephen our Rural Dean and for on-going discussions about the form and organization of the local churches.

We pray for the church here in Stow Bedon and for Beryl and the members of the PCC as they continue to care for the building and plan activities. We pray for the churches in this Benefice, our schools and Thorp House.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray Elizabeth our Queen and for all the Royal Family in this the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. We pray for her health as she recovers from Covid. We pray for all those who hold positions of leadership at National and Local level and for all in authority in their professions. We pray for all those who work in the Health Service as they continue to battle with hospital admissions and the vaccination programme.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer .

For those who work on the land and those who work in the factories. For all our places of paid employment: for just employers and fair wages. For those who are unemployed or struggling to keep their own businesses afloat. For those who can no longer afford the basic necessities of life as the costs of living increase.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

For the sick and suffering, for prisoners and captives, for the safety, health and salvation of all. We pray for the prisoners in Wayland prison and the chaplaincy team.

Particularly today we pray for …..

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Remembering all who have gone before us in faith, and in communion with all the saints, we commend ourselves, one another and our whole life to Christ our God. We pray for Barrie Cogman, Joyce Bishop, Peter Harold Smith and Betty Mildred Burlingham and for all who mourn their passing.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Peace

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass again us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

The power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord God,

you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven;

by it you nourish our faith,

increase our hope,

and strengthen our love;

teach us always to hunger for him who us the true and living bread,

and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from out of your mouth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross,

and follow him;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Ash Wednesday: 2nd March 2022

183:820890322 (Arabella Sandcraft) — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 12:36:34 GMT

Ash Wednesday: 2nd March 2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect – Ash Wednesday

Holy God,

our lives are laid open before you:

Rescue us from the chaos of sin

and through the death of your Son

bring us healing and make us whole

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Readings:-

Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17

2 Blow the trumpet in Zion;

sound the alarm on my holy hill.

Let all who live in the land tremble,

for the day of the LORD is coming.

It is close at hand—

2 a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and blackness.

Like dawn spreading across the mountains

a large and mighty army comes,

such as never was in ancient times

nor ever will be in ages to come.

12 “Even now,” declares the LORD,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart

and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

14 Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave behind a blessing—

grain offerings and drink offerings

for the LORD your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,

declare a holy fast,

call a sacred assembly.

16 Gather the people,

consecrate the assembly;

bring together the elders,

gather the children,

those nursing at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room

and the bride her chamber.

17 Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,

weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say, “Spare your people, LORD.

Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?

2 Corinthians 5: 20b- 6:10

20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favour I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Matthew 6: 1-6,16-216

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Homily

After our prayers this morning, I will bless some ash and invite anyone who would like to, to come forward for what the church calls “The Imposition of Ashes”.

So, just a very few thoughts about that act.

The sign of the cross is very common in our Church services. Those priests with a higher view of churchmanship than mine make the sign of the cross to pronounce that our sins are forgiven after we have made a confession. And, again, the sign of the cross pronounces God’s blessing at the end of the service. Last Sunday I had a lovely time getting to know a family who are having their baby baptized this coming Sunday in Caston. During that service I will sign the baby with the sign of the Cross to show that she has passed from darkness to light. This morning we will emerge from Church with the cross of Baptism there visible on our foreheads for all to see. Today we begin a walk with Jesus which will take us through Lent to Holy Week and Easter and beyond. We walk not like babies who have an invisible mark of the Cross. We walk as adult disciples having made our own decision to accompany Jesus.

Then there’s the ash. I expect we have all been to a funeral service where we hear the words: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. I have been a part of many such occasions where the Funeral Directors ceremoniously and dramatically throw soil into the grave on top of the coffin to symbolize a return to the earth and burial in the soil. The first man was created from the dust and returned to dust when his life was over. We have a finite amount of time to do the task God has assigned to us. Our gospel reading reminds us that we are to be humble and not think too highly of ourselves. We are told not to boast about the amount of time we spend in prayer or the amount of money we give to the poor. Those things are between ourselves and God. We all end up the same anyway. Rich or poor, saint or sinner, we all turn back to dust so trying to achieve positions of power in our own strength are pointless in the end.

The words I will use are: “Remember: you are dust and to dust you will return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ”. These are not words of condemnation like “just remember you are dust. Don’t think you are anything else” “For goodness sake, turn away from your sins before it’s too late and do what you are meant to do, be faithful to Christ”. No, that’s not it. We are urged to turn away not just from our own sin but to turn away from the sin of the world. Our baby will turn away from the sin of the world she has inherited and will be given a new sinless life. The sin of the clings to us as we go about our lives. It’s a bit like the covid virus which can be passed to us from someone who is infected. We carry the sin of the world until we come back to church and confess and the sin is forgiven. When I put the ash cross on your forehead, the words I use are facts of our lives in this world not an accusation of a poor spiritual state. The words at the graveside are: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life”. One day we will all return to the earth but only then can we be part of the glorious resurrection of God’s people. Ash may seem a poor end to a life lived as best we can, following God and serving others but the ash is a reminder than like all living things, death leads to resurrection and something more beautiful than we have experienced so far.

The visible ash in the shape of the cross reminds us that our lives are not just here and now. God’s Son had a purpose on this earth and that was to teach his followers how to live as men and women born in God’s image. Eventually the sin he was fighting overwhelmed him and he died. But in his end was his beginning, as three days later the earth couldn’t hold him and he rose from the dead. His life was changed and eventually he ascended to be reunited with his Father. Our ash crosses give us hope of new lives with God where the sin of this world will be beaten for good.

Intercessions

In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to the Father, through Christ the Saviour of the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For grace to seek out those habits of sin which mean spiritual death, and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For Christian people, that through the suffering of disunity there may grow a rich union in Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For those who make laws, interpret them and administer them, that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly for justice and peace. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For those in the darkness and agony of isolation, that they may find support and encouragement. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure or sorrow, feel that God is far from them. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

That we, with those who have died in faith, may find mercy in the day of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

Holy God

Holy and strong

Holy and immortal,

Have mercy upon us.

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

In church today, it is customary to receive “The Imposition of Ashes.” The ash is traditionally made from last year’s Palm Crosses.

The priest says:

Dear Friends in Christ,

I invite you to receive these ashes

as a sign of the spirit of penitence with which we shall keep this season of Lent.

God our Father,

you create us from the dust of the earth:

grant that these ashes may be for us

a sign of our penitence

and a symbol of our mortality,

for it is by your grace alone

that we receive eternal life

in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

All are invited to come forward to receive a cross on their forehead. You could trace the cross on your forehead as you say these words which the priest says to each person:

+Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,

Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.

God our Father,

the strength of all who put their trust in you,

mercifully accept our prayers,

and because in our weakness,

we can do nothing good without you,

grant us the help of your grace,

that in keeping your commandments

we may please you, both in will and deed;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Peace

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass again us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

The power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Almighty God,

you have given you Son to be for us

both a sacrifice for sin

and also an example of godly life

give us grace

that we may always most thankfully receive

these inestimable gifts,

and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross,

and follow him;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Sunday next before Lent - 27.2.2022

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 13:17:31 GMT

Sunday next before Lent - 27/02/2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Sunday next before Lent

Almighty Father,

whose Son was revealed in majesty

before he suffered death upon the cross

give us grace to perceive his glory,

that we may be strengthened to suffer with him

and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;

who is alive and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever Amen

Readings:

Exodus 34:29-35

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

2 Corinthians 3: 12 to 4:2

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Luke 9: 28-36

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Homily:

Apparently, the three readings we have every Sunday follow a theme. I have to admit that some weeks I find it hard to track down what the theme is. But today, it’s more obvious. The three passages are about “the Glory of the Lord.” First of all, we have the passage from Exodus where Moses returns from Mount Sinai carrying the tablets of stone on which were written the 10 commandments. And the people instantly noticed something different about him when he returned. His face was shining because he had been talking with God. And we read that after he had given a report of what he and God had been speaking about, he covered his face so that he did not dazzle the people with God’s glory.

Then we have Paul in 2 Corinthians explaining that for those of us who believe in Jesus, there is no need for a veil. We are free to show the glory of the Lord without pretending it is not there or worrying about dazzling those we meet. Our gospel today is the story of the Transfiguration. Always a favourite of mine in recent years as I was ordained priest on 6th August when the church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration. Jesus took Peter, James and John with him up a mountain to pray and as they watched, everything about Jesus began to shine in an amazing way. They also saw Moses and Elijah appear and talk with him: the old and the new together in God’s dazzling presence.

They stayed on the mountain overnight. We read that the impetuous Peter wanted to stay much longer and suggested they build shelters for everyone. But, whatever good experience we have of God and our faith, we must always come back down to earth and when they did, the first person they met was a father with a son who was experiencing violent convulsions. Jesus was instantly faced with a decision about who he was. He healed the boy and St Luke says that all the people were astonished at the greatness of God. Jesus’ actions had pointed away from himself and the people had all seen God’s glory.

Talking to or with God changes us. We may not have faces which dazzle others so much that we need to wear a veil over them. On the other hand, we don’t need to pretend that the peace we carry does not come from God. I wonder how our neighbours are coping these days? We have been through very nearly two years of a pandemic where we were forced to stay at home for long periods of time. There has been the terrible fear of where we could go and how we could protect ourselves. We have seen variants of Covid which for some people have caused serious, sometimes fatal, sometimes life-long symptoms. We have not been able to have the life we planned and have not been able to see our friends and families. Then, we reach the point where the Prime Minister announces that the end of all restrictions is coming and we know that Covid is still around but we want some normality. No more than a couple of days later, we wake to the news of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and we know that Putin has a mission and will not stop without the bloodshed and destruction it will take to accomplish it. I wonder how our neighbours are doing? They are probably at the very least perturbed but may be anxious or afraid of what this will mean for us. Instances of poor mental health are on the increase in all age groups.

The Glory of the Lord which settles on us as believers is what gives us a peace in these situations. We know that this life can be tough and for some people it is very tough. But we also know that we have a future in the next life with God and we can look forward to that whatever this life throws at us. There is that wonderful passage in the Letter to the Romans which says:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This does not mean that we won’t have our own sufferings and problems, but we also know that when we do, we can get our friends and the church to stand with us by praying for us to get help we need from God. As Christians we shouldn’t be half-empty people. Haven’t you met some people who just can’t rise above any little issue they have. If you remark on the sunny weather, they will tell you that it’s going to rain tomorrow! We have something which those without faith don’t have. We have the Glory of God running through us, a bit like the word “Blackpool” runs through a stick of rock. The assurance that we are loved eternally and will one day be with God will eventually change our whole demeanour and give us a confidence to go about life with a different attitude.

Lent begins next Wednesday. It’s a time when people traditionally give up things: alcohol and chocolate are just two common examples. The Archbishop of Canterbury has declared today as a day of prayer for peace in our world. We could take this on board in Lent and spend a few minutes each day praying for those situations we read about in our newspapers and see on the news. The situation in the Ukraine and Russia is at the top of our news broadcasts at the moment but we still have refugees fleeing Afghanistan and we still have people being trafficked and persecuted: starving and without hope. There is much to fuel our prayers. We don’t have to wonder for long what we should pray for. Let’s use this Lent productively to stand alongside those who need us to pray for them.

Intercessions:

Almighty and everlasting God,

We do not always know what to ask for in our prayers for there is so much that we do not know or understand, yet we know that you are active in our world, moving in human hearts and in the events of history to fulfil your purpose.

So, we come now to you, and, in quiet faith, we place ourselves and our world into your hands, asking that your will may be done, despite everything that conspires against it.

All things are yours.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Blessed are you, Lord our God, for you have revealed yourself through Moses and the prophets.

You have made yourself known to us through your saints but, above all, you show us your glory in the face our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed are you, God, for ever.

We give thanks for men and women of vision, for all who have shown us of you and your love.

We ask that your Church may continue to show forth your glory in the world. We seek your blessing upon preachers of the word and ministers of the sacraments, upon all who teach and speak in your name.

We pray for our Archbishops: Justin and Stephen and our Bishops: Graham,

Alan and Jane.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask for your prayers for Sylvie and Keith, Griston's churchwardens and the PCC as they look at ways of moving the church forward.

We ask your blessings on the 3 schools in the Benefice and also Thorp House. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Dear Lord, we pray for a peaceful conclusion in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, that the peoples of the two nations find strength and courage to carry them through.

We pray for all those who have been affected by the high winds and floods. May we all take heart in the beautiful rainbows that have been shown to us in the last few days.

A sign of God's love for us.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ as you reached out to the sick and suffering throughout your earthly ministry, we ask your blessing upon all who are suffering at this time, we pray for

May the collective prayers of us all find their way to you. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for all who have witnessed to your love and saving power. We pray for Barrie Cogman whose funeral is on Tuesday, also for Peter Harold Smith and Joyce Bishop.

We rejoice in the fellowship of all your saints and pray that our loved ones departed may share with them in the fullness of your eternal kingdom. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Holy God,

we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:

may we who are partakers at his table

reflect his life in word and deed,

that all the world may know his power to change and save.

this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

2nd Sunday before Lent

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 10:43:40 GMT

2nd Sunday before Lent

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 2nd Sunday before Lent

Almighty God,

you have created the heavens and the earth

and made us in your own image:

teach us to discern your hand in all your works

and your likeness in all your children;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,

now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Genesis 2: 4b-9, 15-25

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. 5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called ‘woman,’

for she was taken out of man.”

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Revelation 4

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Luke 8: 22-25

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.

Homily:

A rather appropriate reading for a week of storms and high winds, I thought. As I settled down to prepare this on Friday morning, the wind was raging around me and it was raining. I have to confess to always being a bit concerned that everything around me will be ok, particularly when the storm is at night.

Jesus needed a break. He had been preaching and healing. He seemed to be in constant arguments with the Scribes and Pharisees. People were crowding in on him, always wanting something from him and the more he was there with them, the more word about him spread and people came from every region to listen, to argue and to beg him to do something for them. We can imagine him saying to his disciples who were also exhausted: “That’s enough now, let’s take one of the boats and go to the other side of the lake where we will be able to get some peace and recover our senses”

Peace on the Sea of Galilee, however, was never predictable. Storms often rose without any warning. We had warning of the two storms we had this week. We were told what the likely wind speed would be and the amount of rain and where in the country it would be concentrated. But not so on the Sea of Galilee. You would think that fishermen who went out every night to fish for their livelihood would know when not to go because their lives would be in danger – but they didn’t. You would think that they of all people would be used to trying to navigate their boat through the inevitable storms, but they didn’t on this occasion.

So, anyway, they set off and the peaceful hum of the oars on the water and the lack of conversation as they wearily made their way across the lake soon lulled Jesus off to sleep. Then it happened! From nowhere, the wind rose and squalled around them and the boat swung from side to side and began to take on water. Now, we have to remember that the disciples were still trying to work out who Jesus was. They had obviously witnessed the great miracles and heard him speak with authority but you can’t really blame them for not realizing that Almighty God was actually there with them. Their first thought as they baled out the water was, “He’s asleep and not helping”. So, they woke him up. A bit of a rude awakening. I imagine very angry men giving him a good shake and shouting: “we’re going to die, don’t you care?” But Jesus did care and he got up and told the wind and the waves to return to order. And they did. So, the terrified disciples were then also totally amazed at what had happened and again wondered just who Jesus was that he could silence nature.

Our Old Testament reading this morning is the second creation story we find in the Bible. We know the first well. Creation is broken down into days when God creates aspects of our world. On the first day, he creates light and separates light from darkness creating day and night. On day three, he gathers land and water into different areas making the land masses and the oceans. And so on, throughout seven days. And every day he looks at what he has created and loves it. The second creation story tells us more about the peaceful existence of God’s pinnacle of creation: man and his companion woman who live in a beautiful garden and can communicate with nature and God while tilling the land and producing their food with animals roaming around. Man and his companion just have one rule to follow: don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But they do and life changes dramatically for them after that time.

The disciples were not able to understand that this mighty God who created the world was in the boat with them. Jesus, God’s son was the human being who was tired out and fell asleep. When the disciples called on God, he was instantly there for them and brought nature back in line so that they were saved.

God never sleeps. In our lives, we can find that storms rise up from nowhere and they threaten our peace and well-being. It’s the things of life which affect all of us, like illness of ourselves or our family members. Losing a job, having an accident, just getting older, worrying about our friends and families. These are all things which threaten our peace. But God is in the midst of them all waiting for us to call on him to help. How we contact him and ask for that help will be different for all of us. Some of us prefer to spend time regularly every day reading the Bible and praying. Others of us find God in the garden or in a hobby or in spending time with someone who helps us to see the situation from a different perspective. Some of us like to write things down, some of us may write poetry or paint pictures or walk in the hills or go shopping. Whatever it is that takes us out of ourselves is where God is and we can see things differently by taking that time out.

The beginning of Psalm 62 says:

“Truly my soul finds rest in God;

my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge.”

The disciples continued through three years of being with Jesus to fail to understand about God. So, its ok for us to not understand. Life is a journey where we try to understand a little more each day of the mysteries that we encounter and the storms we try to overcome. Let’s remember that whatever difficulties come to us, the God who created our world is with us and just waiting for us to reach out for help.

Intercessions:

With confidence and trust, let us pray to the Father.

For the one holy and apostolic Church.

We pray for the Church in this nation and in this Diocese, remembering our Archbishops: Justin and Stephen and our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane.

Let us pray to the Father

Lord of compassion

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the mission of the Church,

that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel

to the ends of the earth.

For this church and parish as it continues to provide a place of peace for those who wish to baptise their babies, get married and bury their departed loved ones. We give thanks for all those who have served this church in the past and we pray for Jamie, Bev and the PCC who make decisions about the way ahead.

We pray for our Benefice and group of churches, for our schools and Thorp House.

Let us pray to the Father:

Lord of compassion

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For those preparing for baptism

and for their teachers and sponsors,

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For peace in the world, remembering the nations of the Ukraine and Russia

that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow

among nations and peoples.

We pray for areas of strife within our own nation where neighbours dispute with one another. We pray for our police, ambulance and fire services.

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer, particularly today we pray for …….

For all refugees, prisoners and those in danger;

that they may be relieved and protected.

We pray for those who still suffer the effects of Covid physically, emotionally and economically. We pray for all health service workers.

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For those who have injured or offended. We pray for anything we may have done to upset others and for a swift reconciliation with those who have upset us.

Let us pray to the Father:

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For grace to amend our lives and to further the reign of God wherever we live and wherever we go.

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

In communion with all those who have walked in the way of holiness and have now departed this life and we remember: Barrie Cogman, Joyce Bishop and Peter Harold Smith

Let us pray to the Father.

Lord of compassion,

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God our creator

by your gift

the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise,

and the bread of life at the heart of your Church:

may we who have been nourished at your table on earth

be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross

and enjoy the delights of eternity;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Third Sunday before Lent

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:05:05 GMT

Third Sunday before Lent 12.2.2022

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Third Sunday before Lent

Almighty God

who alone can bring order

to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity:

give our people grace

so to love what you command

and o desire what you promise,

that, among the many changes of this world,

our hearts may surely there be fixed

where true joys are to be found;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Jeremiah 17: 5-10

5 This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who draws strength from mere flesh

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;

they will not see prosperity when it comes.

They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.

8 They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”

9 The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

10 “I the LORD search the heart

and examine the mind,

to reward each person according to their conduct,

according to what their deeds deserve.”

1 Corinthians 15: 12-20

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Luke 6: 17-26

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil,

because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,

for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now,

for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,

Homily:

Our reflection today comes from “Lectionary Reflections year C” by Jane Williams who is a theologian and lecturer and also married to Rowan Williams previous Archbishop of Canterbury (but she never mentions that!) Joy is having a week off sermon writing as the Benefice service is joined with St Mary’s Watton today for a Confirmation led by Bishop Jane.

Paul’s discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 has fascinated scholars and Christians alike. It shows clearly that the earliest preaching of the gospel contained the witness to the risen Christ. This, as Paul has said earlier in this chapter, something that the Corinthian Christians heard as “good news” when Paul first came to them.

Clearly, there has been some debate going on in Corinth about the nature and reality of the resurrection. From the insistent and slightly impatient tone of this chapter, you get the impression that Paul views these discussions as typical of the Corinthians’ ability to concentrate on inessentials. There is a kind of “let’s sort this out once and for all” tone about, having late night arguments about exactly what form Christ’s resurrection body took, and whether and in what order Christians will be raised, and getting themselves and others in a great state about it.

So, in the first part of the chapter, Paul reminds them – yet again, he implies – of the proofs of Jesus’ resurrection. In the section we are looking at now, he goes on to demonstrate the theological centrality of the resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is not an additional extra, which can be debated as though it left the rest untouched. Paul says, in no uncertain terms, that this is about the doctrine of God, and about our salvation.

If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then everything that Paul has taught the Corinthians about the nature and purpose of God is called into question. The resurrection is not only God’s affirmation of Jesus’ life and teaching, but it is also God’s demonstration that he is “Christ-like, and in him is no unChristlikeness at all” to borrow a phrase from Michael Ramsey. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that offers us redemption and the power that made us in the first place. It is all of a piece. It cannot be a matter for idle debate and speculation, Paul insists. If it is not true, then we have no foundation on which to put our trust in God.

The picture of God that Jesus builds up, through his life and his teaching, his ministry and his death, has strong, consistent elements. They are not wholly new. Many of them can be found in the great prophets and lawmakers of the Old Testament, as you would expect, if this is all the work of God. The Beatitudes in Luke follow the pattern that this Gospel makes particularly clear for us. The themes that fill Mary’s mouth in the Magnificat and that, strikingly, Jesus chooses from Isaiah to announce the beginning of his ministry, are picked up here. Luke paints a vivid picture. Jesus is standing surrounded by people who are hungry to benefit from the power that streams from him, and he announces, both through his healings and through his words, God’s care for the poor, the hungry and the suffering. The power of God is a power that is used to comfort and renew, and it is the power that will work, through the cross and resurrection, to comfort and renew the world. But it is not a power that we instinctively recognize or trust, unless we are utterly powerless ourselves.

Unlike the Beatitudes in Matthew, Luke has woes as well as blessings. This, like 1 Corinthians 15, is a passage about where you put your trust. Those who have nothing else in life to trust in, and so have to fall back on God, are the ones who are blessed, Luke tells us. The rest of us have had our blessing from what we chose to put our trust in.

Trust in God is at the heart of Jeremiah’s message too. His people have gradually come to trust in other things, in themselves, in novel religious rituals, in wealth, in pretty well anything but God, and they are paying a terrible price. They have chosen to rely on things that are not the source of life. Jeremiah uses water as his image of God. God is as essential to life as water is, and to choose to live without him is as stupid as it would be to choose to live without water.

Choosing to trust the God of the resurrection is not without risk. But in the end it is the only thing that makes any sense.

Intercessions:

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father:

for the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God,

and for the unity of all.

We pray for all trouble spots in the world and for all those who try to overthrow governments and take power by force.

Let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

For Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops, for the leaders of our sister churches and for all clergy and people.

We pray for our Clergy Chapter in Breckland Deanery and Stephen our Rural Dean and for on-going discussions about the form and organization of the local churches.

Let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

For Elizabeth our Queen, for the leaders of the nations and for all in authority. For our Prime Minister and all those involved in both national and local government.

Let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

For this community, for all our villages and for all the people who live within them. For the schools in this Benefice and for Thorp House.

Let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

For those who work on the land and those who work in the factories. For all our places of paid employment. For just employers and fair wages. For those who are unemployed or on furlough or struggling to keep their own businesses afloat. For our health and care workers at this time and for all those involved in the vaccination roll-out programme, giving thanks for their dedication and cheerfulness.

Let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

For the sick and suffering, for prisoners and captives, for the safety, health and salvation of all. We pray for the prisoners in Wayland prison. We pray for all those who are still suffering the effects of the virus, those mourning the loss of loved ones, those suffering from anxiety and other mental health conditions brought on by almost two years of suffering.

Let us pray to the Lord,

Lord, have mercy.

To you, O Lord.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Merciful father,

who gave Jesus Christ to be for us the bread of life,

that those who come to him should never hunger;

draw us to the Lord in faith and love,

that we may eat and drink with him

at his table in the kingdom,

where he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

The 70th Anniversary of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth 11

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 20:54:58 GMT

The 70th Anniversary of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth II

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Accession of the Queen

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,

bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth,

and all who are in authority under her;

that they may order all things in wisdom and equity,

righteousness and peace,

to the honour and glory of your name

and the good of your Church and people;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Joshua 1: 1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Romans 13: 1-10

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law.

Luke 22: 24-30

Homily:

Joshua, son of Nun, did not have a very auspicious start to life. He was born in Eqypt when his people were slaves and spent their lives under cruel slave masters making bricks to build pyramids. Somewhere along the line, however, at some stage in his young life, Joshua was noticed by Moses: the leader of the Israelites, who guided and tutored him and gave him special insights into God’s fashioning of both the nation and their eventual conquest of the Promised land. After Moses had received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai and told all the people of the foundations of their communal life together, he returned to the mountain with the all the leaders and advisers of the tribes and having left them all at a distance, he went off to commune with God for 40 days and 40 nights. On the final part of that journey up the mountain, he was accompanied only by his aide: Joshua. Joshua, although unable to go the whole way to meet with God would have been the first person to see Moses’ face shining with the glory of having talked with God. He would have been close to Moses as they descended again and saw that the people had been using the time their leader had been away to build golden images and worship them.

We know from reading the book of Exodus that the people just could not keep the laws and so God made them walk around in huge circles in the wilderness for 40 years until he decided that they were fit to enter the Promised Land. That journey which took them 40 years, would normally have taken, incredibly, 11 days. Moses himself did not follow God’s instructions at one point and was told that he would die before entering the Promised Land. And that’s where our first reading today begins. Moses has died and God calls Joshua to take on his role and lead the people into Jericho. He assures Joshua that he will succeed at everything he does. All he needs to remember is to be: “strong and courageous” and God would go with him.

70 years ago today, the 25 year old Princess Elizabeth became Queen. She was in Kenya at the time and the day before she had been on a wild-life safari. Prince Philip told her that her father had died in his sleep and she was the new Queen. There began a life of duty and service to this nation and the commonwealth which we celebrate today. Until prevented by Covid, the Queen always stayed at Sandringham following her Christmas break until after today, in order to remember her father who died there. Right from that time in Kenya, personal feelings and grief always had to give way to duty and service.

Her father had been a dedicated King, thrown into the role by the abdication of his older brother. By all accounts, the whole family was close: with the grandparents, George V and Queen Mary, often looking after Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret when their parents needed to travel abroad. As Joshua had been inducted into leadership by being with and alongside Moses, our Queen became used to ceremonial duties and the hand waving at public events. Until her uncle abdicated when she was 10 years old, the Queen had no idea that she would one day accede to the throne. As heir to the throne, she continued to have as much freedom as was allowed in those days. When she married, she was able to live the life of a naval wife and mother in Malta and must have expected that to continue for much longer as the King was only 56 when he died.

Duty and service to us all has marked Queen Elizabeth’s life. Now, at nearly 96 we read of her being disappointed if she is prevented from conducting royal engagements by ill health. Her sense of duty never wavers. That promise she made on her 21st birthday to serve the nation for the whole of her life, whether it be long or short has never been forgotten.

As the years have gone by, we have learnt more about where that sense of duty comes from. In her Christmas broadcasts, she has increasing spoken of her faith in God and her sense that following the Christian life is what sustains her and will sustain us too. Somewhere in her life she has come to realise that all she needed to do was to be strong and courageous and God would be with her. She had not escaped many of the difficult parts of life which come to us all. Three of her four children have been divorced and two of them remarried. The Head of the Church of England, which until recently did not allow remarriage of divorced people in church, had to come to terms with that. She lost a daughter-in-law in the most tragic circumstances. She lost a mother and sister in the same year. In her extreme old age, she continues her duties alone without her husband. That’s just her personal life. The nation has been through many difficulties, most recently a pandemic. But the Queen appears to just continue. She makes public broadcasts to encourage us and now she has learnt how to use technology to continue to be relevant.

Whether we are royalists or not, she is an example to us of the great things we can achieve if we follow our calling to be the best that we can be. I’m sure, in private, she struggles as we do but she always returns to the fact that everything she is comes from God. Whatever anniversary or occasion she celebrates, it always begins or ends in Church, giving thanks. So, let us follow the example she sets for us in being strong and courageous in our lives of duty and service.

Intercessions:

This morning our prayers are offered for the life and work of Queen Elizabeth on this the 70th anniversary of her Accession. Also, for our nation and the commonwealth.

Lord God, who provides for all people through your power and rule over us all in love: bless Elizabeth our Queen, that under her this nation may be wisely governed and your church may serve you in all godly peace, and grant that she being devoted to you with her whole heart and persevering in good works to the end, may through your guidance come to your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen

O Lord our God, who upholds and governs all things; receive our humble prayers for our Sovereign Lady, Elizabeth, on the seventieth anniversary of the day she was called to rule us. We ask you to bless her; Charles, Prince of Wales and William Duke of Cambridge and all the Royal Family; that they always trusting in your goodness may be protected by your power and crowned with your gracious and endless favour. Keep them in peace and safety, joy and honour and after death take them into your everlasting life and glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, we ask for your blessing on this our nation and our government. We pray for all those who lead us at national and local level, for a strong sense of duty and a generous spirit that can see all sides of the debate and then come to an honest and open decision based on their desire to work for the good of all. We pray for our world and its leaders. We give thanks today for the stability created by our Queen through 70 years of friendship with the leaders of the nations. We give thanks for all her world tours and state banquets and all her wisdom and courage in dealing with Heads of State. We thank you also for her guidance of generations of young royals who increasingly now take on her various roles. We pray for those charities which owe their existence to the patronage of the Royal Family. We pray for the Princes Trust in all its work to promote young people and guide them into employment. We pray for the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme as it continues to challenge and extend our young people. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, we thank for the example that the Queen is of someone who keeps a strong faith in you when she experiences family difficulties and estrangements. We ask you to sustain her as she moves into advanced age and provide the comfort that she needs as she gives over her life’s work to others. We thank you that she has the courage to speak out about the importance of her faith in her Christmas broadcasts and by her regular attendance at church. We ask that you will continue to bless her with the work that she can still do for you and for our nation and give her the strength to complete the vocation she took up 70 years ago. Give her a strong sense of a job well done. In Jesus’s name. Amen

Finally, we pray for those in need at this time. Our prayers are asked for ………

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace:

give us grace seriously to lay to heart

the great dangers we as a nation and world are in by our unhappy divisions;

take away our hatred and prejudice

and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord,

that, there is but one body, one spirit

and one hope of our calling,

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

one God and Father of us all,

so may we henceforth be all of one heart and of one soul,

united in one holy bond of truth and peace,

of faith and charity,

and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord,

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Presentation of Christ/Epiphany 4

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 11:17:53 GMT

Epiphany 4 - The presentation of Christ

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation.

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect for the Presentation of Christ.

God our creator

who in the beginning

commanded the light to shine out of darkness:

we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ

may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief.

Shine into the hearts of all your people,

and reveal the knowledge of your glory

in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Ezekiel 43:27- 44:4

27 At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

44 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The LORD said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.” 4 Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling the temple of the LORD, and I fell facedown.

1 Corinthians 13

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Luke 2: 22-40

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Homily:

If I were to ask you for the most well-known passages in the Bible, our 2nd reading today from the 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthians chapter 13 would come somewhere in your early guesses. It is often read at weddings because a wedding is the result of two people who love one another deciding to cement their union. It makes sense that we would read and talk about love at a wedding. Most couples know that the initial attraction between them which leads to them falling madly in love will eventually mature into something else which will last through the changes and chances of life until death. Paul speaks to us of what that maturing love looks like. Do you remember that tv interview which is replayed every so often when Charles and Diana spoke on the day of their engagement about love? The interviewer said something like: “and I suppose … in love.” They both looked very shy and even embarrassed and Diana said “of course.” Charles said, “whatever love means” and they both giggled a bit and Diana looked a bit puzzled. Interviewers since have implied that Charles was not in love with her at that point and this would be the start of the downhill slope for them, but I think he put his finger on this dilemma. “In love” is not the same as trying to live out each moment and day loving the person you have promised before God to love because in the slog of everyday when all kinds of obstacles seem to be thrown our way, it is very hard to love another person.

We read the passage, immediately before the one we are looking at, last week and the subscript to that passage is that some people in Corinth were obviously thinking that their spiritual gifts were superior to those of other people. Paul used the picture of a human body to show them that as every part is equal, so is every Christian and every gift. Every gift and every person is needed and every gift and every person is equal to every other. There were many problems for Paul in Corinth. The people there were used to following Greek ways and practices. So, it was not unusual for there to be sexual orgies and demeaning practices around their worship of the Greek gods. As they moved into more Christian practices, we find them naming the extended Communion meal where they actually all ate together as a love feast with all that could denote. The rich and the poor were poles apart in Corinth. Paul discovered that many of the rich people arrived early at the Communion meal because they did not have to work. They started on the food before the poor got there and there was little left for them to eat. In this chapter of his letter Paul sets out to explain what he calls “the more excellent way” of being and behaving, which is the final verse of chapter 12.

Paul is basically telling them that if they truly love one another, they will put others before themselves and the hierarchy which they have constructed will fall away.

In English, we have just one word to express all kinds of love. In Greek, however, there are 4 words, each expressing a different type of love. Today we will look at three of them. So, the word “eros” as in the statue in Piccadilly Circus is the one used most commonly in the Greek-speaking world of the New Testament. It is the concept of physical, sexual love. That’s what the Corinthians meant when they spoke of love. Then there is “philos” which is the word used with reference to friendships and family relationships. Philos was the word used in the New Testament of Jesus’ love for Lazarus and “the disciple whom he loved”. Then we have “agape” which is the highest form of love. It was not used very much outside of the New Testament, but it is the idea of a unique love which God has for us. When the New Testament was written down the writers used a new word to describe a new height or depth of experience. Another famous verse: John 3:16 reads: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” That word for love is agape. We are commanded to love God and one another with agape love. And agape is the word used for love here in 1 Corinthians 13.

Other kinds of love are not inferior or trivial. God created those kinds of love too. But agape love is the love we are to aim for when we think of God and others. Disciples or followers of Christ are to be known by the way they love. Love that does not happen in the world as a whole except in unusual circumstances. If we love in a self-giving, sacrificial, unconditional way, which is what Paul is describing here, others will be attracted by what we do and who we are and they will want to know more. Whatever gifts we have been given by God need to be used without any kind of selfish intent or showy actions. We are called to be humble and not boastful.

The Christian journey begins in a place of not knowing very much. Paul says it’s like looking through a mirror and everything is a bit dim. Our whole lives are like that in fact. We don’t know the answers to many of life’s questions: why people suffer, what happens after death or what heaven is like. Those we meet expect us to know the answers but its ok not to. If we knew all the answers, we would not need faith and no one would need to come to church or to ponder these things or to worship and serve a Being greater than ourselves. We would think of ourselves as that Higher Being. One day we will see everything face to face, clear as a bell. Meanwhile we are called to love and be loved.

Intercessions:

Let us pray to the Father through Christ who is our Light and Life.

Father, your Christ is acclaimed as the glory of Israel: look in mercy on your church, sharing his light.

We pray for your worldwide church. For Archbishops Justin and Stephen and for our own Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for our witness through our lives of service to a world which increasingly does not know you. We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who suffer persecution for their faith and for agencies such as Open Doors which raise our awareness of countries where Christians are suffering.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for this church and community. We give thanks for all who work to keep this church open and serving its community. We pray for all the activities which take place in the village, giving people a sense of fellowship and alleviating loneliness. We pray for this Benefice and for all our churchwardens and members of the PCC and for this Deanery as it continues to think about ministry cover for our churches. We pray for Sophia, baptized recently and all preparing for confirmation at St Mary’s Watton on 13th February.

Father, your Christ in the Temple brings judgement on the world: look in mercy on the nations who long for his justice.

We pray for all the trouble spots of the world, for countries where leadership is cruel and oppressive and for all those people who are forced to work for an unliveable wage. For areas where natural disasters have caused widespread famine, drought or devastation. For all those suffering in any way from the effects of Covid and that vaccines will become available free of charge for rich and poor alike in our world.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Father, your Christ, who was rich, for our sake became poor: look in mercy on all who are in need and those who suffer with him.

We pray for the sick and those in need, particularly those for whom our prayers have been asked ……. We pray for those whose lives have been changed by Covid: those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost livelihoods, those who are still finding it difficult to cope.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Father, your Christ is the one in whom faithful servants find their peace: look in mercy on the whole church, which glories in your salvation.

We pray for Barry Cogman who died recently and for Ros and all their family and friends. We remember those from amongst our own families and friends who have departed this life.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Almighty Father,

you kept faith with Simeon and Anna,

and showed them the infant King.

Give us grace to trust your promises,

and patience to wait for their fulfilment;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

In the tender mercy of our God

the dayspring on high has broken upon us,

to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Generous Lord,

in word and eucharist we have proclaimed the mystery of your love:

help us so to live out our days

that we may be signs of your wonders in the world;

through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

The Blessing:

Christ the Son of God, born of Mary,

fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will;

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Epiphany 3

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 11:04:16 GMT

Epiphany 3

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Epiphany 3

Almighty God,

whose Son revealed in signs and miracles

the wonders of your saving presence:

renew your people with your heavenly grace,

and in all our weakness

sustain us by your mighty power;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

.8 He read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Luke 4: 14-21

4 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Homily

Do we as Christians and churchgoers think that things just happen by chance?

A Facebook friend of mine wrote this last week:

“God will make a way where there is no way! Wow .... I wish I could believe that, I thought to myself when I heard this song on YouTube a few months ago. About the same time, I read about the Apostle Paul writing to a group in some far-away land, saying that he was praying that God would make a way possible for him to go and visit them. Ha! I thought to myself. So, if Paul could go a-journeying in these far-off days, why can’t I go and visit daughter number 3 in New Zealand? Answer that one God!!!

So, he did. There’s Covid for a start. There’s that pesky yet highly successful government in New Zealand that is keeping all foreigners out of their country. That’s it, that’s all. But that was enough to form an impermeable barrier between me and my family. There’s no way into New Zealand without a life or death reason – and I didn’t want that. And there’s no way out of the country either if you want to eventually return. Two weeks of quarantine is the law and almost impossible to book. They tried. Oh, how they tried! But each time there were more than 23,000 people ahead of them in the queue.

So, calm down. Face another Christmas without them. A lot of people are having it much worse than you. But when the phone call came at ten to seven one morning, I realized the hand of God had been the puppeteer in this drama and I cried with joy, wonder and absolute shock. A combination of a brief change in the law, extra quarantine places being briefly available and one last chance shot at going on-line …. And the rest is history. Where did these quarantine rooms suddenly come from? What happened to the 23,000 in the queue? Suddenly, the will of God was done. They were coming home for Christmas.

OK, tell me I am being fanciful. Tell me that God has better things to do with his time than make me happy. Tell me anything you like. But I do believe that if he wants to make a way where there is no way, then that is his business and I am grateful.”

In this Year 3 of the Church of England lectionary our gospel passages mostly come from St Luke. We have just read of Jesus going into the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth and picking up a scroll and reading of his own destiny. What were the chances of that except that God engineered it? In his home town, Jesus and his Father God knew that it was time to declare his purposes and begin his ministry. It was the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who originally felt the Spirit of God upon him and the result was that he devoted his life to changing the lives of those who were suffering.

The Holy Spirit can sometimes be the mysterious part of the Godhead. We know about God the Father because he created the world and we see his presence in nature. We know about Jesus because the accounts of his life, ministry, death and resurrection are told every year and celebrated on major festivals. But what about the Holy Spirit? He or she seems a bit shadowy and vague. I don’t know if you ever read the book “The Shack” or watched the DVD. The DVD is a bit different to the book. God is portrayed as a larger than life, black Momma figure. Jesus is of course a carpenter. The Holy Spirit is a very thin, vacuous woman who does a lot of floating around and speaking in difficult to understand sentences.

For Jesus and for us, the Holy Spirit is so much more of a reality. He appeared in the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism and as he did: God spoke to Jesus. Then we read that the Spirit led him into the wilderness to be tempted. Then Jesus went back to Galilee powered by the Spirit. As he stood in the synagogue and read the passage from Isaiah, Luke tells us that he was full of the Spirit.

Most of us were baptized as babies. I baptized a baby in Caston yesterday and as I poured the water over her head, I baptized her in the three-fold name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God the Father who created her, God the Son who redeems her and God the Holy Spirit who sanctifies her. The act of sanctification is when she has been set apart as a child of God. The Holy Spirit is the One who guides us and leads us into places where we recognize the work of God, just as my friend on Facebook does.

I’m sure we can all think of times which we can’t quite make sense of humanly: when someone maybe said something to us which we needed to hear in order to make a change to a situation or confirm what we had decided to do. I had a friend when I was in my 20s. She was a lot older than me so her advice to a much younger woman was always spot on and I benefitted a lot from knowing her. One evening she rang up as she often did and I always remember her saying she didn’t know why she had rung but then proceeded to give me some much appreciated advice and counsel. The next evening, she was killed crossing a road. She had not known why she rang and after all these years I can’t remember what we talked about but I do believe that either she or I needed that conversation before she died.

The secret to all this of course is noticing God at work in our lives. Jesus knew when it was time to begin his ministry only after spending 40 days in the wilderness. Let us pray that we begin to notice more and more of God at work in our lives as we spend time in prayer and quiet with him.

Intercessions:

In peace, let us pray to Jesus our Lord who ever lives to make intercession for us.

Saviour of the world, be present in all places of suffering, violence and pain, and bring hope even in the darkest night. Inspire us to continue your work of reconciliation today. In our world we pray for areas of conflict and injustice and we pray for all refugees and prisoners of conscience.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord of the Church, empower by your Spirit all Christian people and the work of your church in every land. Give us grace to proclaim the gospel joyfully in word and deed.

At the end of this week of prayer for Christian Unity, we give thanks for our brothers and sisters attending church in other Christian denominations. We pray that the things that unite us may be greater than those things that divide us and that we would draw closer together in our joint worship and service.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops. Give them an ever deepening peace and a sense of your Presence.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, guide and enable all who lead and serve this community and those on whom we depend for our daily needs.

We pray for this church of St Botolph and all who serve here. We give thanks for all those who have been a part of this congregation over the years. We pray for each of our villages and our churches, for all places of work and homes. We pray that all those in any kind of need may find help and support. We pray for our schools and the residents and staff of Thorp House.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Great physician, Stretch out your hand to bring comfort, wholeness and peace to all who suffer in body, mind or spirit. Fill us with compassion, that we may be channels of your healing love. We pray for anyone we know who is ill or in need, particularly today for……

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Conqueror of death, remember for good those whom we love but see no longer. Help us to live this day in the sure and certain hope of your eternal victory.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.

Merciful Father,

Accept our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

Our Saviour Christ is the Prince of Peace

of the increase of his government and of peace

there shall be no end.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Almighty Father

whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world:

may your people,

Illumined by your word and sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory,

that he may be known, worshipped and

obeyed to the ends of the earth;

for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever, Amen

The Blessing:

Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory

and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Epiphany 2

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 11:17:34 GMT

Epiphany 2

Today we welcome back the Revd.Adrian Bell who will take our service and preach the homily. It’s good to have you with us, Adrian.

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Epiphany 2

Almighty God,

in Christ you make all things new:

transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace,

and in the renewal of our lives

make known your heavenly glory;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 62: 1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,

till her vindication shines out like the dawn,

her salvation like a blazing torch.

2 The nations will see your vindication,

and all kings your glory;

you will be called by a new name

that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand,

a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah,

and your land Beulah;

for the LORD will take delight in you,

and your land will be married.

5 As a young man marries a young woman,

so will your Builder marry you;

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

so will your God rejoice over you.

1 Corinthians 12: 1-11

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

John 2: 1-11

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone

brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Homily:

I can’t remember how many times I have been to a wedding reception and some joker has said, ‘Come on Vicar, why not change the water into wine?’ As with all jokes aimed at the clergy it is always good to take them in good heart as often the person making the joke has had too much celebratory champagne.

Today in the Gospel reading we celebrate a wedding. The miracle of the changing of water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is used in the Anglican wedding service really to confirm that Jesus, as a good orthodox Jew, agreed with weddings and he blessed them by his presence there with his mother and disciples.

Even though I attended a prep-school as a child where a number of Jewish boys attended, I have only been to one Jewish wedding and that was a wedding rehearsal at a Synagogue as part of our education. It was fascinating to see the ‘chuppah’ – the canopy over the bride and groom, similar to that used at the Coronation of the Queen during her anointing. Also, to see the breaking of the ceremonial glass by the groom with his foot. But the most moving and romantic part of the wedding rehearsal was the bride slowly circling the bridegroom 3 times to represent righteousness, justice and loving kindness.

Whether all this went on in the time of Jesus we do not know but, actually, I think that this reading from St John was not included to encourage marriage but to show the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. In these first 12 chapters of St. John’s Gospel, we see Jesus performing various miracles such as the feeding of the 5,000, stilling the storm and it culminates in the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This miracle of changing the water into wine is just one of many examples in the Gospel where we see the glory of God revealed in Jesus.

Some of the younger members of our families may have watched yet another viewing of Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of Lost Ark on TV this Christmas. The film is only 30 years old and glimpses a little of the Hollywood view of the Ark of the Covenant. However, St John clearly states that the splendour and glory of God which rested in the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple of God at the time of the Kings of Israel has moved on. This glory, shown through creation and glimpsed in history is now concentrated in one person – Jesus Christ.

So, this second Sunday of Epiphany is a time of revelation or manifestation and understanding about the purpose of Jesus Christ and his great power. Changing water into wine may not be that world changing, but these miracles conclude with the raising of a dead man from the grave and Jesus being raised by God from the dead after 3 days in a tomb.

We must also consider the disciples and the many believers who followed on from them and those who would read St John’s Gospel. They needed to be encouraged. Through these miracles these young and inexperienced disciples began to have total faith in Jesus. They had all come from various callings and their faith needed to grow. The wedding in Cana in Galilee was just a beginning of this relationship and this relationship would be an eternal one as they came to know Jesus as the way, the truth and the life.

In the New Year many of us are concerned about the future and we will need to work together in whatever place God has called us so that we make sure that people are secure and safe, and that the church’s message continues to be sown. In his New Year message the Archbishop of Canterbury said this…………

“When we plant a seed, we don’t see the fruit immediately. But under the surface, God is working with what we have planted.

In the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I see that God turns all endings into new beginnings, and death into life. God invites us to be part of this story – to be people who bring hope, healing and renewal to our world.

This year, let’s keep planting those seeds – let’s keep moving forward in hope”.

The Second Sunday of Epiphany and the New Year are a time to look at how we can promote the Gospel and often as with Jesus Christ, the Church is at its best when it is doing something. As I walk around the Swaffham town each morning, I see the churches doing their various activities which include: helping to distribute food through the Food Bank, working in the schools and community groups, and working in the hospital and care homes. There is no doubt in my mind that the Church during this year will be more effective by what it does than what it says. Jesus taught his disciples by these important actions and many others and this they carried on into the emerging new church.

Today the church is at a crossroads: the Diocese is looking to restructure itself, fewer clergy will be in parishes, but that does not mean that the work of the church will cease. In my mind and my ministry, I have always felt that actions are far more important than words. What the church does is seen and often what it says is ignored. Changing water into wine is not our task, but sacramentally changing bread into the body of Christ and wine into the blood of Christ, is an honour and is central to this service and the ministry of the church. We are fed so we can go out in the community to serve.

Intercessions :

We pray that Christ may be seen in the life of the Church.

You have called us into the family

of those who are the children of God.

May our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ

be strengthened by your grace.

We pray for this church of St Peter and Paul and this community we serve. We pray for all those who live and work within our boundaries.

We pray for our Benefice, continuing to remember those whose task it is to appoint clergy for this Deanery.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

You have called us to be a temple

where the Holy Spirit can dwell.

Give us clean hands and pure hearts

so that our lives will reflect your holiness.

We pray for all those in positions of leadership across the nations of the world that they may govern wisely and justly.

We pray for our own Prime Minister and all who make decisions about the economic life of our country.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

You have called us to be a light to the world,

so that those who dwell in darkness may come to you.

May our lives shine as a witness

to the saving grace you have given for all.

We pray for our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane and all clergy and lay leaders.

We pray for all those we meet as we go about our daily lives.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

You have called us to be members of your body,

so that when one suffers, all suffer together.

We ask for your comfort and healing power

to bring hope to those in distress.

We pray for all health professionals during this continuing time of pandemic.

We pray for those who work in medical research and those who continue to spend long hours volunteering for the vaccination rollout.

Today we pray for ……

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

You have called us to be the Bride,

where you, Lord, are the Bridegroom.

Prepare us for the wedding feast,

where we will be united with you for ever.

We pray for all those from amongst our own families and friends who have departed this life.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Jesus, Lord of the Church,

you have called us into fellowship with all your saints.

We unite our prayers with St Peter and St Paul

and ask for grace to serve you with joy

where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for all eternity.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

Our Saviour Christ is the Prince of Peace

of the increase of his government and of peace

there shall be no end.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God of glory,

you nourish us with your Word

who is the bread of life:

fill us with your Holy Spirit

that through us the light of your glory

may shine in all the world.

we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory

and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Baptism of Christ / Epiphany 1

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 21:28:06 GMT

Baptism of Christ/Epiphany 1

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Baptism of Christ

Eternal Father,

who at the baptism of Jesus

revealed him to be your Son,

anointing him with the Holy Spirit:

grant to us, who are born again by water and the Holy Spirit,

that we may be faithful to our calling

as your adopted children;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 43: 1-7

But now, this is what the LORD says—

he who created you, Jacob,

he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;

I give Egypt for your ransom,

Cush and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honoured in my sight,

and because I love you,

I will give people in exchange for you,

nations in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

I will bring your children from the east

and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

Bring my sons from afar

and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

7 everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.”

Acts 8: 14-17

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire”.

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Homily:

On Thursday I received a parcel. When I have the time, I like to both buy and sell on Ebay. It’s a bit like a jumble sale sometimes. My rubbish becomes someone else’s treasure and my new “must-have” has been thrown aside by someone else. Anyway, I digress. Posting out parcels can be quite a complicated process because you have to decide first of all whether it’s going to go first or second class. And then whether you want it “signed for” or “not signed for”. We won’t get into registered and recorded deliveries and deliveries by a certain time! So, my parcel was second class signed for. But since Covid began of course, the system has changed. Whereas I used to sign my name on the postie’s handheld machine, now he asks my permission and he signs or more likely enters his number in the machine.

Increasingly, what has been happening over the last few years is that we do less and less in person and rely on numbers and cards to represent us. I remember my parents both receiving their wages in cash and my Mum putting amounts into different tins to pay the electricity and gas bills. Nowadays most people have wages or pensions paid directly into a bank account and they pay for gas and electric by standing order or direct debit. No cash ever changes hands. It’s very hard to navigate some systems when you don’t have an email address because it’s just assumed when you fill in a form (on-line of course) that you have one. I know Covid has brought this about too: but doctors’ appointments now are often by phone or on zoom or via the nurse. When I booked an apartment for my holiday which begins tomorrow (hurray!) I was asked to confirm my identity using either my passport or driving licence on my smartphone which took my photograph. I’m not sure my Mum would have coped and I only just about did!

So, who am I? Who are you? We are obviously more than a set of bank details, or a National Insurance number or a click on a machine. In our gospel passage today from St Luke’s gospel, we have one of the accounts of Jesus’ Baptism. Now it’s fair to say to start with that Jesus did not need to be baptized. Baptism is a sign of turning away from an old, sinful life to a new life lived with God. Jesus is God and as a human being he never sinned. So, he did not need to be baptized. In fact, baptism was not part of Jewish religious observance. If you were Jewish, you had usually been born a Jew. It was your nationality and therefore your religion too. But if you were not born a Jew and you decided to convert to Judaism, you were baptized. Here in the baptism story we have John the Baptist who is a bit like one of the Old Testament prophets. In not so nice language, he is telling people that there is something seriously wrong with their lives and he is offering baptism as a way of ritual cleansing after they have repented and decided to do better. It’s this unusual character, doing this unusual thing of getting everyone lined up at the river and baptizing by full immersion which is drawing the crowds to find out what’s going on. Jesus decides to use this occasion to be united with his people and do what they are doing. So, he too presents himself to John.

Jesus; the human offers himself in God’s service and God responds. What does God say? Well, there are some things he doesn’t say. He doesn’t say: “You will be a great preacher” or “You will heal the sick” or even “you will raise the dead”. All those things are true of course. But in that moment where Jesus offers himself, God does not affirm his ministry, he affirms who he is. “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” He affirms Jesus’ identity and tells him he is loved beyond measure. As good parents you will know that the most important thing you can tell your children is that they are loved. It’s not about how fantastic they are at their job or raising their own families or achieving whatever they have achieved. It is about who they are and the fact that you love them, whatever they do. Telling someone you love them makes them grow in self-esteem and can cure the blues caused by whatever is going wrong.

Jesus left that baptism scene to spend 40 days alone in the desert working out what his ministry was going to look like. He went knowing that God loved him. He was going to need to remember those words in the times when things began to be difficult for him. And that’s how it is for us. I love the words of Isaiah which we read as our Old Testament lesson today. God is talking through the prophet to the whole nation of Israel but it sounds like he is talking to just one person. There’s that lovely verse where he says:

“Because you are precious in my sight,

And honoured, and I love you.”

Those are the words of Almighty God, the One who created the whole of the world. And he speaks to each one of us as if there was only one of us. We are precious to him, we are honoured (that’s amazing that the One who deserves the highest honour gives it to us). We are loved: not for what we do or have done, not for the success we have made of our life but for who we are. We are not a number or just part of the system, we are sons and daughters of God “in whom he is well pleased”.

Intercessions:

Jesus calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Washed clean by the waters of baptism,

let us pray that we may live the life to which he has called us.

Lord Jesus, eternal Word,

proclaimed as the Christ by John the forerunner,

hear us as we pray for all who proclaim your word.

We pray for our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane and for all the clergy in this Diocese and Deanery.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, baptizing with the Spirit and with fire,

strengthen us to withstand all the trials of our faith.

We pray for all those who are persecuted for their faith and have to meet in secret. We pray for the work of the organization: Open Doors which raises awareness of those who are being persecuted and tortured for their faith.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, bringing forgiveness to all who repent,

teach your church dependence on your grace.

We pray for this church of the Holy Trinity, giving thanks for those who work to provide a place where this community can find peace and provision for its spiritual needs.

We pray for our Benefice and all who live within its boundaries.

We pray for the staff and children at our schools in Caston, Great Hockham and Thompson and all who live and work at Thorp House.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, fulfilment of the promises of old,

give hope to all who suffer or are ignored:

we pray particularly today for …….

We pray for all who are suffering as a result of the continuing restrictions caused by this virus. For those who have lost their livelihoods or are physically or mentally ill. We continue to pray for all doctors and nurses and those who work within the health service.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, beloved Son of the Father,

anoint us with the gifts of your Holy Spirit

to serve our friends and families and bring peace to our neighbourhoods.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, bringer of hope,

share with all the faithful the riches of eternal life.

We remember with thanksgiving those from our own families who have departed this life.

Lord, in your mercy; Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ,

in you the Father makes us and all things new.

Transform the poverty of our nature

by the riches of your grace,

and in the renewal of our lives

make known your heavenly glory.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

Our Saviour Christ is the Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Lord of all time and eternity,

you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father

in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son:

by the power of your Spirit

complete the heavenly work of our rebirth

through the waters of the new creation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory

and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

Second Sunday after Christmas

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 10:14:24 GMT

The Second Sunday After Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Second Sunday after Christmas

Almighty God

in your birth of your Son

you have poured on us the new light of your Incarnate Word,

and shown us the fullness of your love:

help us to walk in his light and dwell in his love

that we may know the fullness of his joy;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Jeremiah 31: 7-14

7 This is what the LORD says:

“Sing with joy for Jacob;

shout for the foremost of the nations.

Make your praises heard, and say,

‘LORD, save your people,

the remnant of Israel.’

8 See, I will bring them from the land of the north

and gather them from the ends of the earth.

Among them will be the blind and the lame,

expectant mothers and women in labour;

a great throng will return.

9 They will come with weeping;

they will pray as I bring them back.

I will lead them beside streams of water

on a level path where they will not stumble,

because I am Israel’s father,

and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

10 “Hear the word of the LORD, you nations;

proclaim it in distant coastlands:

‘He who scattered Israel will gather them

and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’

11 For the LORD will deliver Jacob

and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;

they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—

the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,

the young of the flocks and herds.

They will be like a well-watered garden,

and they will sorrow no more.

Then young women will dance and be glad,

young men and old as well.

I will turn their mourning into gladness;

I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance,

and my people will be filled with my bounty,”

declares the LORD.

Ephesians 1: 3-14

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

John 1: 10-18

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Homily:

I went to do my shopping on Thursday. Nothing unusual about that. I go food shopping every week on Thursday or Friday. But this week, something caught my attention. The shelves were emptier than usual and many of the prices were reduced. When I got round to the place where the Christmas goods had all been displayed the week before, there were just a few Christmas cards and Christmas serviettes left. They were reduced too, so I thought I would shop early for next Christmas and bought a pack of cards and a pack of serviettes. “That will be great next year” I thought to myself “if I can remember where I have put them”. It struck me that for the commercial world in which Tesco and the other supermarkets operate, Christmas was over and done with and they were waiting to stock the shelves with the next products which will maximise their profits: chocolates and gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Today is the ninth day of Christmas: three days to go until we reach 12th night or the Feast of the Epiphany. So, in the church, it’s still Christmas. We are still wearing white and still singing Christmas carols. Maybe you are getting a bit tired of cards hanging around at home and the Christmas tree taking up too much space, but in our Christian world, it is still Christmas. Tesco’s are on some roundabout which is very difficult to get off. They go from Christmas to Valentine’s Day to Mothering Sunday to Easter to Summer holidays to Halloween to Bonfire Night and back to Christmas (I may have left one or two out). And sometimes we can think that the church does the same. This week we are celebrating Christmas, next week we will have jumped over Epiphany because it happens mid-week and on to Jesus’ Baptism. The baby has in the space of three weeks become a man and we will be looking again at his ministry.

But we are not like Tesco. We are not packing Christmas away or selling it off at a reduced price. The Son of God was born in order to make a difference to our lives wherever we happen to join the circle of belief. That’s how it is for little children celebrating the first Christmas they can remember. That’s how it is for young couples making their first homes together this year and beginning to build their own Christmas traditions. That’s how it is for us as we celebrate however many years we have been preparing our homes and our churches, whether we live alone or are part of a large family. There’s a magical quality about Christmas which is much more than the John Lewis advert or coming across the Salvation Army singing carols in the town centre.

The prayer I will say after the Communion service today says:

“All praise to you,

Almighty God and Heavenly King,

who sent your Son into the world

to take our nature upon him

and to be born of a pure virgin:

grant that, as we are born again in him,

so he may continually dwell in us

and reign on earth as he reigns in heaven,

now and for ever.

The once in a lifetime event, that is Jesus being born to a virgin in a little town where there was no room for them to stay in an inn, becomes a cosmic event for those who believe. One Christmas night becomes all of our days. God’s only son becomes the man that everyone can believe in and expect to change their lives. We who have chosen to follow Jesus know that he makes a difference to the way we live our lives every day not just on one day of the year. We are the inheritors of the messages from God which were given on the night of Jesus’ birth.

“Don’t be afraid”

“I bring you good news”

“on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests”

I wonder what happened to those shepherds and wise men after they met Jesus? Their lives have to have been changed. Our lives are changed by our meetings with God the Son: through worship here on Sundays and our private prayer times away from here. The more we allow Jesus to dwell within us, the more we will be able to fulfil the call God has placed on our lives. We all have a role to fulfil in the time we have been given on earth, If we don’t know what that role is, we should ask God to show us. The more we are able to live out that roll the more we will be able to bring earth and heaven closer to one another. Desmond Tutu who died this past week was someone who had a clear idea of who God was calling him to be and the more he lived that call, and sometimes it was very painful for him to live it, the more others were drawn into following God. His witness became worldwide and he will be remembered for the changes he brought to the spheres of influence he had.

Intercessions:

Father of us all: we pray for the Christian church at this time. We pray for Christians all over the world and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops. In our Diocese we pray for our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for all Christian denominations: particularly for those who meet in this area: for greater unity and a renewed sense of mission to the people who live here. We pray for those involved in making decisions about the churches in the Breckland Deanery and how we will work together this year. We pray for this church of the Holy Cross, giving thanks for all those who attended Christmas services here at the Carol service and the Christingle, that they may continue to be blessed in their lives. We pray for this Benefice and for all the activities which have taken place recently whether fundraising or worship that our influence in this area may grow and deepen.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Father of us all, we pray for our world and its leaders: for a greater sense of working for the good of all. We pray for all those affected by the virus throughout the world, especially the poorest nations. We give thanks that vaccines are now available for everyone and we pray that all will be able to be vaccinated and everyone will decide to take up the offer. We pray for an end to the spread of this virus and a return to normal life. We pray for our Queen and members of the royal family.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father we pray for those we know in need of God’s love and assurance at this time. For all those suffering the economic effects of the virus. For those who have lost their livelihoods and those who need to make life-changing decisions. We pray for the sick and those who look after them and for the residents of Thorp House. We pray especially for…………

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we remember those from amongst our own families and friends who have departed this life and we pray that we may be joined with them in experiencing your Eternal Kingdom.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,

And his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

All praise to you,

Almighty God and Heavenly King,

who sent your Son into the world

to take our nature upon him

and to be born of a pure virgin:

grant that, as we are born again in him,

so he may continually dwell in us

and reign on earth as he reigns in heaven,

now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing:

Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one, things earthly and heavenly,

fill you with peace and goodwill

and make you partakers of the divine nature;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you

always. Amen

A Family Service for the Sunday after Christmas, 26th December The Feast of St Stephen

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:48:28 GMT

A Family Service for the Sunday after Christmas, 26th December
The Feast of St Stephen

Happy Christmas Everyone! We: the Clergy, Churchwardens and all the members of the various congregations within The Wayland Benefice wish you every blessing.

Times are hard for us all again this year, but Jesus is born again in our hearts and lives and we invite you to celebrate with us. Here is a service for St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day) 26th December 2021

Preparation:

You might like to light a candle as we begin. Jesus is the Light of the World and He is present with us now.
Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. Let us turn to the light and confess our sins:

God our Father, you sent your Son full of grace and truth; forgive our failure to receive Him.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, our Saviour, you were born in poverty and laid in a manger: forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Spirit of love, your servant Mary responded joyfully to your call: forgive the hardness of our hearts.
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy

May God who loved the world so much that He sent His Son to be our Saviour forgive us our sins and make us holy to serve him in the world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of St Stephen:

Gracious Father,
Who gave the first martryr: Stephen
grace to pray for those who took up stones against him:
grant that in all our sufferings for the truth
we may learn to love even our enemies
and to seek forgiveness for those who hurt us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reading:
Matthew 10: 17-22

17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

A Carol to sing together: Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gathering winter fuel.

Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou knowst it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.

Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament
And the bitter weather.

Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps, good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winters rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.

In his masters step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

So …… who was St Stephen

He was a Christian deacon in Jerusalem who was well known for helping the poor and widows. He was one of 7 deacons appointed by Jesus’ disciples to do this job. Stephen was also a good preacher and spoke out when others condemned Jesus. He became the first person to die for his belief in Jesus. He was stoned to death in 36A.D. His final words as he died were to ask God’s forgiveness for those who were killing him.

…. And why is it called Boxing Day?

The earliest mention of Boxing Day was in the 1830s when a “Christmas box” was the name for a Christmas present.

It also relates to giving to the poor. Traditionally there was a box to collect money for the poor placed in Churches on Christmas Day and opened the next day – Boxing Day.

The Victorians were the ones who made Boxing Day a Bank Holiday in 1871. Around the same time the tradition of giving servants time off to visit family was growing. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants; their master would give them a box to take with them. It contained gifts, a bonus of money and sometimes leftovers from the master’s table on Christmas Day.

Sailing ships when setting sale would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. If the voyage was a success, the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents given to the poor.

Let us pray to Jesus our Saviour

Christ born in a stable, give courage to all who are homeless, sick or sad at this Christmas time.

Hear our prayer

Christ, worshipped by the shepherds, give peace on earth and hope in our homes.

Hear our prayer

Christ before whom the wise men kneel, give humility and wisdom to all who govern.

Hear our prayer

Jesus, Saviour, child of Mary, you know us and love us, you share our lives and hear our prayer.

Glory to you for ever. Amen

The Blessing

May Christ who by His incarnation gathered into one, things earthly and things heavenly, fill you with joy and peace.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

The First Communion of Christmas, 24th December 2021

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:32:53 GMT

The First Communion of Christmas, 24th December 2021

Happy Christmas Everyone! We: the Clergy, Churchwardens and all the members of the various congregations within The Wayland Benefice wish you every blessing. Times are hard for us all again this year, but Jesus is born again in our hearts and lives and we invite you to celebrate with us.

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect for Christmas Eve:
Eternal God, who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

Readings:
Isaiah 52: 7-10
How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
    they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
    you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God.

Hebrews 1: 1-4
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

John 1: 1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Homily:

Some interesting facts for you:

Most children speak their first recognizable word between 10 and 14 months of age. Do you remember listening out for that first word and trying to work out what it was?

By 18 months most children have at least 10 words but then the number of words increases dramatically.

How many words does the average person know? (20-35,000).

How many words are currently in use in the English language? (171, 146)

Which language has the most words? (English).

Which is the hardest language to learn for an English person? (Mandarin)

Which language has the easiest grammar? (Esperanto).

As a fairly new Vicar this year, I have had the pleasure of reading lesson number 9 at a couple of carol services. It’s also the gospel passage for Christmas Day. It’s from the first chapter of St John’s gospel and it’s all about words: or to be precise: “The Word”. John does not begin his gospel with an account of the Nativity. He decides to set the scene of his life of Jesus by going back to the very start of all things.
If we were to skip back to the beginning of the Bible in Genesis, we would find there an account of the creation of our world. And we see that the creation all comes into being through God’s word. God says: let there be light and there is light. God says: let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear. And it happens as he says. What started out as a formless and empty darkness became the world we now inhabit. And at each stage of the creation God looked at what he had created and saw that it was good. He was pleased by seeing what he had done.

Our words tell the world who we are and what we want. The child who is just learning to speak points and gesticulates wildly at what or who he wants and the words become clearer as he struggles to reach out for those things. Our words and our tone of voice identify us. Our accents show others where we were born or brought up or educated. We can show others instantly whether we are interested in what they have to say or whether we are tired or angry by the tone of our voice and the words we use. We still remember for good or ill what people said to us years ago. When we are ill and lose our voice, we lose some of our power over our world. There are many educational devices now to help project the voice of someone who struggles to speak because of something like muscular dystrophy or to teach children with additional needs to use pictures and signs to communicate.

So, in the beginning, God spoke the world into being. It makes sense that when He chose to save the world from the destruction it was bringing upon itself, he would speak again. But this time, his Word took on flesh in order to make the point more clearly. Just as our words convey who we are and what we know and believe, the letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus – t,he Word is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being. You can’t get much closer than that!

As we look at Jesus, we see a carbon copy of his Father God in the way he interacts with the world. In this uncertain world where we frankly don’t know where this pandemic will end and where we don’t know what restrictions will be placed upon us going forward: we see tonight a family who had to travel around 90 miles (the young woman in the end stages of pregnancy) to a town where they could find no accommodation and where she had to give birth amongst all the animals in the stable. Then we see them having to flee because their lives were threatened and they didn’t really know whether they would survive. That seems a story not that far away from today whether we are thinking about a pandemic or the plight of millions of refugees.

God speaks through his son into whatever our situations are. He brings hope and peace where there appears to be none. I know that many people do not really like the Message translation of the Bible, but I really like one of the phrases from tonight’s gospel in the Message. The NIV says: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. The Message translates it: “ The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood”.
This evening we worship the baby who has moved into all of our neighbourhoods and our hearts: the exact imprint of a God who loves us so much that he wants to be with us in the messes of our lives in order to transform them in to lives lived for Him.

May God bless us all this Christmas!

Intercessions:

Let us pray to our Incarnate Lord,
who has brought us out of darkness
and into his marvellous light.

Christ born for us,
Son of God given for us:
help us to know you,
to worship you and to serve you …
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Wonderful Counsellor,
you order all things with your wisdom:
help the Church to reveal the mystery of your love
and fill her with the Spirit of Truth…
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Mighty God,
the government is on your shoulders:
guide the leaders of the nations
and bring in your kingdom of justice and righteousness …
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer .

Everlasting Father,
you call us to live together in unity;
protect by your mercy all your children,
bless our families nd renew our communities …
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Prince of Peace,
you bring reconciliation through the cross;
by your healing power give to all who suffer
your gift of wholeness and peace …
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Father,
full of the Spirit,
hear our prayer,
receive our praises,
fill our lives. Amen.

The Peace:
Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,
And his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God our Father,
in this night you have made known to us again
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him
until the day dawns
and Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts.
to him be glory both now and for ever. Amen

The Blessing:
Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly,
fill you with peace and goodwill
and make you partakers of the divine nature;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 09:57:27 GMT

Fourth Sunday in Advent

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Collect – Fourth Sunday in Advent

God our Redeemer,
who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
grant that, as she looked for his coming as our Saviour,
so may we be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our Judge;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Micah 5: 2-5a
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labour bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the LORD,
    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.
5 And he will be our peace

Hebrews 10: 5-10
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”

8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Luke 1: 39-45

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”

Homily:
In our readings today we see quite a few of God’s plans for saving his people coming together. In Micah, we read of the significance of the town of Bethlehem in God’s plan. The prophet tells us that it is the smallest and most insignificant place, but God has chosen it as the place where the Messiah will be born. Historically, Bethlehem was quite a large place. It was the capital of what had been the Israelite tribe of Judah but over the years it had lost a lot of its significance and at the time of Jesus’ birth was nothing more than an overgrown village. Of course, we all know from our study of Ruth, a month or two ago, that the plans had been started generations before. Ruth, the foreigner, had shown both her contemporaries and her descendants what a life dedicated to loving kindness could look like. Back in her home country of Moab, she had had a good life. She was married and looking forward to having children in order to carry her husband’s name. That was not to be, as we know, when her husband died. She could have stayed and remarried but she chose to leave her own land and go with her mother-in-law: Naomi back to Israel. She did not know what she was going to, but she knew she had to show kindness to the woman who had taught her about God. Our theme today is: “Saying Yes”. Ruth started a chain of events by her “Yes” to God.

Her grandson became the greatest King Israel had ever known: David. And as the generations passed, eventually a young man descended from that line had the choice of whether to stand by his fiancé when she told him an angel had said she would bear the Messiah. Joseph said “Yes” to God and married Mary because, somehow, he knew that, even though they both suffered the tongue-wagging and cruel comments of the whole town, God had a bigger plan for them. Saying “Yes” to God never has and never does ensure a trouble-free existence.

Today, in our Gospel reading, we have the beautiful story of Mary meeting up with Elizabeth. The angel had told Mary that Elizabeth was also having a baby. They all knew of course that Elizabeth had never had children and was too old to start. They had no telephones in those days, so the news that she was pregnant was not instantly available. Mary would only know if this was true by visiting her cousin. And we have that lovely moment where the two women embrace and the baby inside Elizabeth does a little dance because he recognizes God’s Son within Mary.

John the Baptist had to say “Yes” to being the forerunner for Jesus. He was like the support act before the main star came on the stage. John was to prepare peoples’ hearts in order to receive Jesus. Sometimes when we say yes to God, we will be the support act to other peoples’ roles. I know it is hard work for the relatively few people we have in our group of churches here to hold everything together: to decorate the churches, bake for fundraising, meet to discuss all the things which need to be done and apply for grants to keep the buildings in as good repair as possible. Then there is the spiritual side of things. I know that you pray for others and visit those who are ill. And every “Yes” is as valuable as every other. We have to serve according to our physical and emotional abilities and those change as we go through life. I don’t think that John the Baptist ever saw his role as subordinate to Jesus. He saw his task as fulfilling what God required of him and Jesus doing the same. We shouldn’t have hierarchies in our churches.

When our Bishops are consecrated, they are reminded that when they were first ordained they were Deacons and remain Deacons. Deacons in the New Testament were the ones who were chosen by the first disciples to serve the poor and distribute food to the widows. They are also reminded that they were ordained as Priests and remain as Priests. Priests are like The Good Shepherd who constantly searches out the sheep that get lost and brings them back. Years ago, Bishops used to be treated and, some of them in my experience expected to be treated, as very important and the ones who had the special seats and made all the important decisions about their areas of responsibility. Nowadays I see many Bishops who consult much more and ask for our views on their decisions before they make them. We obviously treat them with respect when they visit or write to us, but we see the “Yes” they have said to God as their part in our joint “Yes” as the Church.

So, part of the Bishop’s role at this time of year is to encourage the clergy. In the post on Friday, I got two Christmas cards: one from Bishop Jane and Archdeacon Ian and the other from Bishop Graham. The one from Bishop Graham shows a snowman in his garden which overlooks Norwich Cathedral. I found myself wondering in view of what I have just said about our different “Yeses” who built the snowman. I don’t think it was Bishop Graham! Inside he has had printed two verses from a Carol we probably sing every Christmas on some occasion or other. The words are by Christina Rossetti and probably sum up far better than I could what I have been trying to say:

“Our God, Heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
but what I can I give him: give my heart”.

Intercessions:

As we share in Mary and Elizabeth’s joy at the coming of our Saviour, let us quieten and still ourselves in the presence of God.

Heavenly Father, we can only marvel at the news of the Annunciation and we pray that like Mary we as present day Christians can also work together to further your kingdom. We pray for those who will be taking part in services at Christmas in churches or in their own homes, watching services on television or listening to radio broadcasts. We pray for Christians all over the world. In our Diocese we pray for our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for all who will be drawn to our churches this Christmas that they may find God’s love and peace. We also pray for mission agencies and their ministry throughout the Anglican Communion.

Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask for reassurance and encouragement during this time of uncertainty in the world. Give us insight into the real needs of our country, but also the wider world. We pray for our government, our MPs and local councillors in their decision-making at this time. We pray for all those still affected by the corona virus throughout the world, especially the poorest nations. We pray for our Queen and members of the royal family and we pray for all people who will be travelling to see their families at Christmas time.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for our group of parishes and the villages that make up this Benefice. We pray for our friends and neighbours and those we come into contact with. We pray for our local schools, places of work, our farms, and the local shops that we use. We pray that we may take no one we meet for granted. We pray for all those who visit our homes for their continued care and help.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer

We pray for those we know who are in pain and discomfort. We pray for those who look after them. We pray for the residents and staff of Thorp House. We pray for those who are sick and we especially for…………
Our Archdeacon Ian has asked for our prayers as he and his family deal with the shock of his recent diagnosis of cancer.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer

Heavenly Father we know that death can be so cruel especially when people are taken at a young age but thank you for the knowledge and the belief in eternity and that one day we will gather together in your kingdom. We give thanks for the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints and all those we know locally who have recently come to the end of their earthy journey. In silence we remember Barry John Sewell whose funeral took place this past week and Patricia Audrey Plummer whose funeral takes place this coming week.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer

Merciful Father
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
In the tender mercy of our God,
the dayspring from on high shall break upon us,
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow
of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of the promised Saviour:
fill us your servants with your grace, that in all things we may embrace your holy will
and with her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Third Sunday in Advent

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:58:00 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Third Sunday in Advent

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Collect – Third Sunday in Advent
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards
of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make
ready your way
by turning the hearts of the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge
the world
we may be found an acceptable people
in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the
Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Zephaniah 4: 14-20
Sing, Daughter Zion;
    shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
    never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “I will remove from you
    all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
    which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal
    with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame;
    I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honour
    in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honour and praise
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
    before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.

Philippians 4: 4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 3: 7-18
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

Homily:

I can feel it all getting closer, how about you? On Friday, I received two Christmas cards with Christmas letters attached. It was lovely to hear about the things that those two families had been able to do over the past year, despite the restrictions placed on us for half the year. So, its time now for me to decide how to respond to those friends and others whom I will contact before Christmas. First of all, it requires me to sit down quietly and reflect on what I have done this year, what I have achieved, what I have enjoyed. What has not gone so well? The whole of this will not be relayed to my friends. Some of it is for private analysis and for deciding on some of the things which will be important next year. Then there was my ex- Spiritual Director who I gave up seeing about half-way through this year. She was wanting to know how I was getting on at the course I do in Yorkshire every month. She was also wanting to know how my art projects were getting on. These two questions need a little more consideration this time around about how I spend the time I’m not with you and whether there are things that I miss doing and should still be involved with.

Our readings today also give a sense of something or more accurately Someone getting closer. Our first reading from the prophet Zephaniah mentions a time when Jerusalem will again be the centre of Jewish worship for those exiled from their land. It speaks of a day when the Messiah will come into their midst and there will be joyous dancing and singing. A day of celebration. The days of exile when all the people felt shame and degradation will be changed into a restored sense of being God’s people. It seems like the reading from Philippians just follows on as Paul exhorts the people to continually rejoice in the One who is to come. The people are instructed to bring everything to God in prayer and receive his peace which passes everything we can know and understand.

Then, in our Gospel passage, we meet again the rather crazed figure of John the Baptist, emerging from a time in the wilderness with something to say to anyone who will listen. This austere character we met last week who wears just the skin of animals and eats strange food, does not mince his words either. He calls the assembled crowd a brood of vipers. Not a very nice thing to say to your congregation as you begin your sermon!

Then he tells them that the One they have been waiting for is indeed coming but there is a real need for a change of heart and behaviour in order to receive him in the best possible way.

Today’s theme is “A need for change”. At this time of the year, there are various opportunities for us, despite all the rush and push of preparing for Christmas to just stop for a moment to reflect and see if we need to make any changes to the way we behave and the things we do. The first Sunday in Advent is the first Sunday of the church’s year and when we reach the end of something and the beginning of the next thing it is natural to reflect. Also, in not too long now, we will have New Year’s Eve followed by the calendar moving on to 2022. I don’t know whether you make new year resolutions? Apparently, most new resolutions are broken very quickly. But it’s common to think about the year ahead and decide to do something differently.

It’s interesting that John’s tirade took place after he left the desert.
In the early years of Christianity, there were men and women who spent long periods of time reflecting on their relationships with God whilst living in the desert. We call them the Desert Fathers. They were the forerunners of the monks and nuns who then began to live in monasteries and live their lives to a strict rhythm of work and prayer. These holy people, set apart from normal, everyday life were always available to give spiritual counsel to those who visited them in order to help them to reflect and make some changes. We believe that Julian of Norwich had a husband and family but after their deaths in the Black Death of the 14th Century, she moved into a tiny room behind a church in Norwich. The room which you can still visit, has three windows. One looked into the church so she could see Communion being celebrated. Another looked into another small room where the person who provided her meals would come and they would have a brief chat. The third room looked out into the street. And as people passed they stopped and asked Julian for her advice and for prayer. Julian lived in that room and never went out for many years. She spent her time in prayer and received many revelations from God which she wrote down and we can still read today.

So, this third week of Advent is the half-way point and in less than two weeks we will celebrate the coming of Jesus as a baby. He is the one who brings about change in our world. Many people have been influenced by Jesus’ teaching to bring about change. Mother Teresa, William Wilberforce, Chad Varah and Desmond Tutu to name a few. There have been many people who have become missionaries or changed the whole course of what they had intended to do after hearing a call from God. We can change the world for just for one person at a time: maybe a neighbour or someone we meet only occasionally by following the teachings of Jesus.

Intercessions:
In joyful expectation of His coming to our aid, we pray to Jesus.                       Come to your Church as Lord and Judge.
We pray for the Anglican Communion throughout the world and we pray for this Diocese and our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for the church’s witness in this season of Advent as the commercial world draws us on to buying for Christmas. We pray for this church of St Martin and this Benefice as we all make preparations for our Christmas services and events and for our villages and their Christmas events. Help us to live in the light of your coming and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to your world as King of the nations.
We pray for the leaders of the nations that they may be just and fair in their dealings with their people. We pray for our own government and Prime Minister: for industry and commerce, for our health service, our schools and other places of education. We pray for teachers and children of the schools in this Benefice in Caston, Thompson and Great Hockham as term ends next week. We give thanks that we will be holding two school services next week. Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and Comforter.
We pray for all those still affected by the corona virus: the sick, those who have lost loved ones and those who care for sick relatives. For the staff and residents of Thorp House, For those who have lost their livelihoods in this new economic climate and for those who are depressed and finding life hard at present. Our prayers are asked particularly today for ….                                                       Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness and distress, and set us free to serve you forever.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to us as Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.
We remember: Barry John Sewell and Patricia Audrey Plummer who have died recently. We thank God for their lives and pray for their families and friends. Give us with all the faithful departed a share in your victory over evil and death.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory. Lift us up to meet you that with all your saints and angels we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give courage to your people, who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

Merciful Father
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
In the tender mercy of our God,
The dayspring from on high shall break upon us,
To give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow
Of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
We give you thanks, O Lord, for these
heavenly gifts;
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing:
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Second Sunday in Advent

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 12:48:48 GMT

Second Sunday of Advent 5.12.21, at Stow Bedon

2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Philippians 1: 3-11
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Luke 3: 1-6
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

Homily:

Today’s Advent theme is: “Preparing a Place” and it introduces a Bible character we will be looking at for two weeks: John the Baptist.

Last week we looked at a miraculous birth story. Abraham had been told by God that he would be the Father of a great nation, but he and his wife Sarah were too old to have children. But with God, there are no obstacles to the plan he has for mankind. Sarah does have a baby and the seeds of the nation of Israel are sown and begin to grow.

Now we jump into the New Testament and meet for the first time the rather odd character of John the Baptist. He is in fact much more like one of the Old Testament prophets breathing fire and damnation on those who have wandered away from God and demanding they return. We first meet him as he emerges from the desert, dressed in a camel’s skin. We imagine that he did not care that much for personal hygiene, he had loftier things on his mind. His diet too was very restricted; he ate locusts and wild honey. We believe he had taken a Nazarite vow.

That was a very strict vow made before God in order to devote himself more fully for a period of time. It involved not cutting his hair, not drinking any kind of wine and isolating himself from the community particularly not having anything to do with death and dead bodies. It is thought that Samson had taken a Nazarite vow and was given great physical strength as a result of his devotion.

So, John the Baptist was preparing himself in a very strict way both to receive from God and to minister on behalf of God. It may have been that he realized that much was expected of him because of his own miraculous birth. A few weeks ago, I was talking about the Temple and its various rooms and courtyards: the outer courtyard being the furthest place that Gentiles could go in, the court of the women being nearer to the centre but still the nearest they could go. And so on until we have the ornate Holy of Holies where only the High Priest could go and only one day a year to offer sacrifice on behalf of the people. John’s father: Zachariah was a priest and the year before John’s birth, he was elected as the one who would enter the Holy of Holies and offer the sacrifice. Imagine the preparations he would have made in order to perform this once in a lifetime task. I expect he hd his robes washed, maybe he bought new ones. He would have prepared his heart by fasting and praying. He would have kept all the Jewish rules so carefully so that nothing could prevent him doing this very special task.

He and his wife Elizabeth had a great sorrow in their lives. They had never been able to have children. Maybe Zechariah was praying about this as he entered the Holy of Holies on that momentous day. The hour of the offering came, and Zachariah was about to pray and suddenly he was aware of an angel standing there. The angel told him that Elizabeth would conceive and the child would grow up to be very special in God’s service: his task would be to get the people ready for God. Of course, Zechariah found this all very hard to take in and he argued with the angel who just happened to be Gabriel. For that he was struck dumb until the baby was born.

As you probably remember: Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin and it was a confirmation for Mary after her own angel visit when she met a pregnant Elizabeth. The two babies in the womb seemed to recognize their joint destiny when the mothers greeted one another.

Places and hearts were being prepared for the coming of the world’s Saviour. Hearts were being changed and lives turned upside down. Today we are keeping the second Sunday of Advent in our churches. This afternoon our churchwardens and PCCs are going to a meeting in St Mary’s Watton to hear a suggestion put forward by Bishop Jane and Archdeacon Ian about the future ministry cover for our churches in this Benefice. It is 5.5 years since Father Bob left and a priest has not lived in the Benefice since that time. Adrian was an Interim Priest, brought here to minister until a new plan could be worked out. He helped us to prepare a place – a group of churches in these villages – where we can continue to worship God and provide for the needs of this area. As we move nearer to Christmas, there are many preparations which we need to make to ensure that our families and friends have presents and food and know that we love them. There are preparations which need to be made to ensure that our churches look beautiful and that we have a message that speaks to this time in our world so that the people we have been given by God know that He loves them.

Whatever happens this afternoon, and I don’t expect it to be earth-shaking, we will continue to prepare ourselves and these places for the birth of a Saviour who can and does change the world. We will continue to make our churches places of hope and love in an uncertain world. There are always attempts in the media to undermine and criticize the church and Christianity. That doesn’t matter: we are called to continue to prepare a place.

Intercessions:
Come to your Church and peoples as Lord and Judge.
Help us to live in the light of your coming
and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our Prayer.

Come to your world as King of the nations.
We pray for those areas of our world where violence is common place and many flee their homes to escape greedy and cruel regimes.
We pray for areas of our own nation where there is poverty and many people are needing to rely on the good of others through foodbanks and school meals programmes.
We pray for government decisions to be made to alleviate poverty and strengthen our unity with one another.
Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to your people with a message of victory and peace.
We pray for the Church in this parish of St Botolph and in our Benefice giving thanks for all those who sacrifice time, money and energy to provide a place where others may come and seek peace.
We pray for the Church in the Breckland Deanery and the meeting taking place this afternoon to talk about the future of clergy cover in this area.
We pray for Bishop Jane and Archdeacon Ian as they lead us in those discussions.
Give us victory over death, temptation and evil.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to us as Saviour and Comforter.
We pray for …..
We pray also for the relatives and friends of Edna May Brown whose funeral took place here this past week and Barry John Sewell whose funeral will take place later this month.
We pray for anyone known to us to needs our prayers at this time.
Break into our lives,
where we struggle with sickness and distress,
and set us free to serve you for ever.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to us from heaven, Lord Jesus,
with power and great glory.
Lift us up to meet you,
with St Botolph and all your saints and angels,
to live with you for ever.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
In the tender mercy of our God,
the dayspring from on high shall break upon us,
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow
of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

Father in heaven,
who sent your Son to redeem the world
and will send him again to be our Judge;
give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming
that, when he comes again,
we may be ready to greet him
with joyful love and firm faith,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
Christ the Son of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Advent Sunday - 28th November

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 12:24:32 GMT

Advent Sunday - 28th November (Griston)

Advent Sunday

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Collect – Advent Sunday
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Jeremiah 33:14-16
14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfil the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
15 “‘In those days and at that time
    I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
    he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved
    and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:
    The LORD Our Righteous Saviour.’

1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Luke 21: 25-36
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Homily:

One of the things I liked to do pre-Pandemic was to escape to the Cinema. This past week, for the first time since the beginning of 2020 I decided to go and see what changes had been enforced and whether they still sell salted popcorn. They do! The film I went to see was “Spencer” which is a fictional story of Diana, Princess of Wales’ final Christmas at Sandringham before she and Princes Charles separated.

I love the whole experience of seeing films on the big screen as my TV is tiny so it’s not the same watching DVDs at all. I also love the anticipation of waiting for the big film to start. It’s usually a bit of a nuisance to sit through all the adverts and the trailers of films I will never watch because I have quite a narrow view of the films I like. Do you remember the days when we had two films A and B to watch? But I know we are all set to go when a member of staff from the cinema comes in and tells us the film is about to start and she hopes that we will enjoy the screening. On Tuesday, there were just two of us in the cinema and I have been there alone : in the late morning when it’s really cheap. But she still says the same thing to a full cinema or just me. And I look forward to that.

Today our theme for Advent Sunday is; Watching and Waiting. In our Old Testament reading, the prophet Jeremiah reminded the people that there would be a time in the future when God would fulfil his promises to the nation of Israel by sending a King even greater than King David to rule with true justice and righteousness. That King would be one of David’s descendants. Of course, we know from our study of the Book of Ruth that Jesus was the person born as a direct descendant of David. He was born in Bethlehem where Boaz, Ruth’s husband came from and was of the tribe of Judah.

The promise Jeremiah was talking about, however, was first made many hundreds of years before. Today as we lit our first Advent candle, we remembered Abraham and Sarah who were the ones who received God’s promise. It is a strange story that we find in the book of Genesis. In fact, it’s a miracle story. And as we travel through the Old and New Testament looking at some of these people who were milestones on the way to the birth of Jesus, we find many miracles. Abraham was just an ordinary member of one of the early tribes. He seems to have been a very faithful worshipper of God, however, when primitive religion with the worship of trees and animals was common. God decided to reward Abraham’s faithfulness by making him a promise. He promised that Abraham would become the father of a great nation and his descendants would be as numerous as grains of sand on the seashore. It was a big promise and it had a big problem to go with it. Abraham and Sarah were quite elderly by the time the promise was made and Sarah had been unable to conceive a child.

In the Bible we find accounts of many women unable to bear children. There was obviously no IVF in those days and the simple operations available these days to correct the things which are not working properly were not available. But the woman in particular in those days was ridiculed and shunned if she did not have children. Three visitors arrive at Abraham and Sarah’s house or possibly tent one day and while they are eating a feast prepared for them by Sarah, they tell Abraham that they will be back at the same time next year and by then Sarah will have a child. Sarah is actually listening in to this conversation and she laughs at the thought of someone her age having a baby. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to laugh at God but anyway, she does have a baby and calls him Isaac.

Our theme this week is of “Watching and Waiting”. Sometimes we have to wait a long time for God’s promises to us individually to be revealed and fulfilled. I wonder what you are watching and waiting for. Is it something for your family? Maybe a new job, or better health, or financial provision, or perhaps it is a child. Is it something for yourself? A new place to live, better neighbours, a fear you have which you need help to deal with. Jesus talks a lot about staying awake as we watch and wait. Remember the 5 Foolish Virgins who turned up at a wedding and missed the arrival of the bridegroom and all the festivities because they had left to buy oil for their lamps? If they had taken the oil with them, they would not have missed the celebrations. As we wait, we are to be alert to the signs that the promise made to us is being fulfilled. The little signs that God is doing things when a person’s attitude towards us changes or we feel just a bit better about a situation or we discover a new possibility.

God loves to make and fulfil promises as any good father does. He loves his children and wants to make our lives better. Just a moment extra in prayer and reflection over these Advent weeks could make a world of difference for us or someone we love.

Intercessions:

In joyful expectation of His coming to our aid, we pray to Jesus.                       Come to your Church as Lord and Judge.
We pray for the Anglican Communion throughout the world and we pray for this Diocese and our Bishops: Graham, Alan and Jane. We pray for the church’s witness in this season of Advent as the commercial world draws us on to buying for Christmas. We pray for this church of St Peter and St Paul and this Benefice as we all make preparations for our Christmas services and events. Help us to live in the light of your coming and give us a longing for your kingdom. We pray for the meeting next Sunday in Watton to hear of the plans for clergy cover in this area of the Deanery and for Bishop Jane and Archdeacon Ian who will be chairing that meeting.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to your world as King of the nations.
We pray for the leaders of the nations that they may be just and fair in their dealings with their people. We pray for our own government and Prime Minister: for industry and commerce, for our health service, our schools and other places of education. We pray for teachers and children of the schools in this Benefice in Caston, Thompson and Great Hockham. Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and Comforter.
We pray for all those still affected by the corona virus: the sick, those who have lost loved ones and those who care for sick relatives. For the staff and residents of Thorp House, For those who have lost their livelihoods in this new economic climate and for those who are depressed and finding life hard at present. Our prayers are asked particularly today for ….                                                       Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness and distress, and set us free to serve you forever.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come to us as Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.
We remember: Edna May Brown who died recently and the refugees who drowned crossing the Channel this week . We thank God for her life and pray for her family and friends. Give us with all the faithful departed a share in your victory over evil and death.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory. Lift us up to meet you that with all your saints and angels we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give courage to your people, who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
Merciful Father
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
In the tender mercy of our God
the dayspring from on high shall break upon us,
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow
of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
O Lord our God,
make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service
and joyful in his praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory …
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Feast of Christ the King

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 11:46:05 GMT

Feast of Christ the King - Sunday 21st November

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Revelation 1: 4b-8
4 John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John 18: 33-37 .
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Homily:
If you were in church, you might have noticed that my stole has changed colour today and after 25 weeks of green I have now changed to red. Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It is the final Sunday of the Church’s year. Next Sunday, I will be purple because the new year begins with four weeks of preparing our hearts and minds for Christmas. Christmas of course is a Jesus festival par excellence. We worship the son of God born as a human baby and then we track through his life until at Easter we mourn his death and celebrate his rising. But today is not a Jesus festival. We are not celebrating Jesus the King. The title: Christ the King gives us a clue to the change in emphasis. Today we begin to focus on the eternal aspect of Christ’s reign. The baby Jesus was born in a specific time, in a specific place and could only be in one place at one time. Today we begin to think about God who is everywhere and does not exist in time. We also begin to think about the Second Coming of Christ when the world as we know it will end and he will then sit on the King’s throne.

If it’s not too irreverent, I was thinking about a possible conversation that might have taken place in Heaven over two thousand years ago. I know I have shown you this picture before but there is an icon which has three people depicted on it, sitting around a table. It is called the Trinity and imagines the relationship of the three persons of the Godhead. It’s that kind of thing I was thinking about. God the creator of the world is at a loss as to know how to restore mankind to the loving relationship he had with them in the days of Adam and Eve. You would think he would know everything about human beings, after all he created them, but after they disobeyed him and the Devil was able to charm them, God found that there was just something he couldn’t understand. He had wiped out the world and started again after a flood. He had sent endless prophets to tell the people to stop sinning and return to him. He had given the most wonderful visions of a new life lived with him. And he only needed them to try and carry out the commandments he had given them. They just needed to do their best and he would forgive them because he loved them so much. So, in my picture, he doesn’t do what to do next.

At that point Jesus says: Well, if we really don’t understand them, I will go and live amongst them. Then we will know what makes them tick from the inside. So, its agreed and in order to experience and understand everything that human beings go through, Jesus will have to die. He won’t stay dead of course because he is still God and death can’t hold on to him. The plan is conceived, and Jesus is born as a baby. He grows up and as a Jewish teacher he reinforces what God always wanted people to know. He teaches people to love all others ad forgive all others. He teaches them to pray so that the relationship with God is little by little restored. He battles with evil every day because he is misunderstood and hated even. Eventually he is tried and put to death and three days later he overcomes death and appears to his followers. 40 days later, it is time for him to leave his earthly assignment and return to his Father God. Because he has lived amongst us for three years, he literally then becomes our Advocate. When we pray, he helps us to tell God about our world and how we are living here.

One day, I like to think there will be another conversation happening in Heaven and God will again send Jesus to the earth, this time to gather the believers together and then he will establish a new Kingdom on the earth where he will be King. Already it’s like we live with a foot in each camp. When we became followers usually at our Baptism, we were given eternal life which is a different quality to the life we have now and will go on for ever after this one. But there will also be a time when the world will be judged and Jesus will return.

In our Gospel reading we see both aspects confronting one another at Jesus’ trial. On Palm Sunday, the people were laying palm branches at Jesus’ feet as he rode into Jerusalem. The Jews were and still are waiting for a great King who will ride into Jerusalem on a warhorse ready to slay all their enemies and restore their Kingdom. Jesus did not ride on a warhorse, he rode on a donkey. A man of peace not war. However, all the waving of palm branches and bowing and saluting made the Romans take note and we see Pilate asking Jesus at his trial: “Are you a King?” Because if he’s a King, they had all better prepare for battle. Jesus does not deny that he is a King, but he tells Pilate that he is not a King of this world. Of course, this confuses Pilate no end. “So, are you a King or aren’t you a King?” I guess that’s really the essential question. If we believe that he is just a King of this world we have to realise that he only has this world’s power. If he is Christ the King, he has supernatural power at his disposal to establish a rule of justice and peace which will last for all eternity.

Intercessions: Let us with confidence present our prayers and supplications to the throne of grace.

We pray for all those in positions of power,
that they may govern with wisdom and integrity,
serving the needs of their people.
We pray for the Queen and the Prime Minister and all parliamentary representatives, both at national and local level.
We pray for all leaders of the nations particularly in those countries where wars and tensions are common place.
May your reign come;
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church, the sign of your reign,
that it may extend your welcome to people of every race and background.
We pray for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops and Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops.
We pray for the church in this parish of Holy Trinity, Great Hockham and for all who continue to serve here. We pray for our Benefice, for the churchwardens and the PCCs. We pray for all our preparations for Christmas and our witness amongst those in our parishes.
May your kingdom come;
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for Christians of every denomination,
that together we may come to understand
the royal priesthood you bestowed on us in baptism.
May your dominion come;
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose commitment to truth
brings them into conflict with earthly powers,
that they may have the courage to endure.
We pray for those who are sick or in any kind of need, particularly today for …….
May your rule come;
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for this community of faith,
that attentive to your word
we may always worship in spirit and in truth.
May your reign come;
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

Loving God,
You have taught us that the power of the heart
is greater than the power of wealth and might.
Hear us as we pray for the fulfilment of your reign.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our king,
to him be glory and power for ever.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
To crown all things there must be love, to bind all together and complete the whole. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Stir up, O Lord
the wills of your faithful people;
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,
may by you be plenteously rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
Christ our King make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign with him in glory ….
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Remembrance Sunday

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 21:34:32 GMT

Remembrance Service

Sunday 14th November 2021 Remembrance Sunday

After two minutes silence to remember the fallen of the two world wars:

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; old age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
We will remember them.

Brothers and sisters in Christ: we are here to worship Almighty God, whose power sustains the world he has made; who loves us, though we often fail in his service; who dwelt among us as the Lord Christ, that we might find eternal life; and who, through the spirit of Christ in our hearts, leads us into the ways of his good purposes.

As we give thanks for his great works, we remember those who have lived and died in his service, and in the service of others; we pray for all who suffer through war and are in need; we ask his help and blessing that we may do his will, and that the whole world might acknowledge him as Lord and King. But first we join together in the prayer that Christ himself has given us, as we say:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

Reading: Micah 4: 1-5

4 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
    it will be exalted above the hills,
    and peoples will stream to it.
2 Many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 He will judge between many peoples
    and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.
4 Everyone will sit under their own vine
    and under their own fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
    for the LORD Almighty has spoken.
5 All the nations may walk
    in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the LORD

our God for ever and ever.

Let us confess to Almighty God the sins and shortcomings of our world: its pride, its selfishness and greed; its evil divisions and hatreds. Let us confess that we are all bound together in the world’s wrong living; and that failure to seek peace and establish righteousness rests upon all God’s children.

Let us recollect in silence for a moment the distress of those countries which even today are at war, or where civil strife has left families bereaved and homeless:

Act of Penitence:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned in thought, in word and deed. We have not loved thee with our whole heart: we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In thy mercy, forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we my act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thee; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 50-58
50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been We
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Prayers:
In peace let us pray to the Lord.

We pray for the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of freedom, justice and truth.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who bear arms on behalf of this nation,
that they may have discipline and discernment,
courage and compassion.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who wish us harm,
that you will turn the hearts of all to kindness and friendship.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for the wounded and captive,
the grieving and the homeless,
that in all their trials they may know your love and support.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the Armed Forces:

Almighty God,
Stretch forth your mighty arm
to strengthen and protect the armed forces;
grant that meeting danger with courage
and all occasions with discipline and loyalty,
they may truly serve the cause of justice and peace;
to the honour of your holy name,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Most holy God and Father,
hear our prayers for all who strive for peace
and all who fight for justice.
Help those, who today remember the cost of war,
to work for a better tomorrow;
and, as we commend to you lives lost in terror and conflict,
bring us all in the end, to the peace of your presence;
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Finally we pray for all those who are on our hearts today.

We sum up our prayers in the words of The Grace;

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

Be with us and remain with us, now and ever more. Amen

Address:

We will remember them!

The year was 1937 and a young couple had met at a dance and were, in those days, “walking out together”. Jack was 19 and Sarah was 17. They were both working as they had left school at 14. Sarah loved the latest fashions, particularly the hats and they made a handsome couple. They went on dates to the cinema and loved dancing. They were having a good time and were getting to know one another in their first boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.

Then came 1939 and war broke out. Jack’s uncle had been a soldier in the Sherwood Foresters. He was called up with all his mates from the colliery, where he worked, in a fresh wave of recruits for what turned out to be the final year of the First World War. He was killed, just 21 years old, in the final battle of the war. What a waste. He died in March 1918, the month Jack was born. Jack was named after the family hero. Who knows but that Jack along with many young men at that time, when faced with a second war, saw an adventure ahead and maybe a chance to do good for a family who had lost a son. Anyway, whatever he thought he got caught up the moment. He and Sarah got married and Jack went off to Devonport to train for the Navy. He had a tattoo of his sweetheart’s name on his forearm and he had professional photographs taken of him in his brand new uniform. Sarah also had photos taken so that he could have them close as he sailed.

It turned out that the Second World War did not treat the family that much better than the First World War had. It was Jack’s job on his ship to pinpoint on the charts where the enemy submarines were and give instructions to his superiors for either attack or avoidance. He was on HMS Hood when it was sunk. The first reports said that there were no survivors. Sarah heard that on the radio and thought he was dead. Later he was pulled out of the water. That was the second ship and the second time he had lost all his friends and colleagues and had been frightened to death by the experience. Then came HMS Ark Royal and the same happened again. Three times in danger of drowning and he couldn’t swim.

For Sarah, the war was a time where she had to take responsibilities which she was not ready for and she often recounted the fear she felt in the blackouts and when she did not know whether her new husband was alive or dead.

In 1945, Jack and Sarah were reunited and like many other couples had to try and re-establish their lives together. They had both become very different people and both in their own way suffered extreme mental health problems for the rest of their lives. Jack, like many men, never spoke to Sarah or his family about what had happened during the war. He had a friend who had served in the first war and they often drank too many beers together and shared the horrors of their experiences.

This is not a sermon about the rights and wrongs of war. We all have to make up our own minds about that. The fact is that war is not just out there somewhere, it is inside us all. Jack and Sarah, if you have not already guessed were my parents and their experiences affected the child they brought into the world years after the war. As I reflect in the two minutes silence every year, I remember my father giving his life just as much as those who were shot dead or drowned. The father Jack might have been died during the years of war and I never knew that man.

One of the most powerful images I think I have seen in recent years was a few months ago when there was a rumour that the Taliban were about to take over Afghanistan. Of course, the news came to us much more quickly than it did when we relied on a crackling wireless and it was much more vivid. The image was of desperate people clinging to the underside of jet planes as they took off from Kabul airport. Poor desperate people were holding on literally for dear life and when their arms could hold on no longer, they fell to their death. Death for them was preferable to the cruel regime they were facing.

The prophet Micah in our reading today talks about a time when God will judge the disputes that human beings have with one another. It will be a time when we won’t need swords and spears or nuclear weapons to protect ourselves. We will not need to train up soldiers and sailors and as our weapons will not be needed, we will be able to turn them into farm implements. Our settled lives of peace will mean that we can concentrate on tending our gardens and farming our fields.

Micah says that we will “walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever”.
God is the One who changes hearts and minds and causes people to stop their wars with one another. Today we traditionally remember the fallen of the two world wars but there have been many conflicts both before and after those two wars. Remember the Falklands. And how many men and women who lost their lives or were terribly maimed on tours of Afghanistan? We make conflicts every day in the way we treat one another and the views we have which lead to arguments and strife. God has given us rules to live by which if we follow them will help to bring about peace. Jesus summed up those rules which we know as the 10 commandments in just two sentences: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And your neighbour as yourself.” As we try to love God, our neighbours and ourselves a little more each day: the wars which so often go on inside us will begin to matter less and we will become more peaceful people. Then when we do feel called to speak out in situations for justice and restoration, we will be doing so from a place of love.

Act of Commitment:

Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and of our fellow soldiers in Christ; that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and that we may support those who work for the relief of the needy, and for the peace and welfare of the nations.

We say together:

Lord God our Father we pledge ourselves to serve thee and all mankind in the cause of peace; for the relief of suffering and need and for the praise of thy holy name. Guide us by thy spirit; give us wisdom, courage and hope; and keep us faithful, now and always. Amen

And may the blessing of God Almighty: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you now and always. Amen

Third Sunday before Advent

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 12:06:12 GMT

3rd Sunday before Advent

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Hebrews 9: 24-28

24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Mark 1: 14-20
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James: son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Homily:
I think there is something very important in all of today’s readings that we need to get a hold of.
It’s a brave preacher, however, who preaches on the Book of Hebrews ….. so, here goes!
We don’t know either the author of the book or who it was written to. Scholars used to think that St Paul wrote it but that is no longer so. We do know that these Hebrews were Jews who had converted to Christianity but were in danger of losing their faith possibly because they were living away from the great centres of the faith in the early days after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Behind all of the readings we have in Church there is obviously a history which we as 21st century Christians in England can find very different to our own history. The centre of our Sunday worship is a group of six churches in Norfolk. The centre of worship for the Jews up until A.D. 70, when it was destroyed was the Temple in Jerusalem. Every male Jew had to attend the Temple, travelling from wherever he lived, three times a year for great festivals. The rest of the time he attended the synagogue which was the local place for worship. Although the Temple has been destroyed, we know from the Old Testament what it looked like. We know its measurements and what was found inside. We know that it had a series of different areas. The outer area was called the Court of the Gentiles. Those who were not Jews but may have been learning about the faith were only allowed in this area. Further inside there was an area known as the Court of Women. Women were a little better than Gentiles but still kept at a distance from the main part of the Temple. Then further still we have the Court of the Israelites: the men, and a little further: the Court of the Priests. In the very centre of the building was the main area of the Temple with an ornate sanctuary enclosed within that.

The sanctuary was called The Holy of Holies and it was! No-one was permitted to enter that sanctuary at any time apart from the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. On that day, he offered animal sacrifices on behalf of the people and prayed on their behalf. It was a once in a lifetime experience for the priest. It was believed that God would only hear prayers and forgive sins if his people made sacrifices. Every other day of the year when the Jews visited the Temple, they still had to sacrifice. You remember when Mary and Joseph went to the Temple to present Jesus and for Mary to be purified, they took a pair of doves or pigeons with them because that was what the law said they should do. When Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple, it was because they were making a ridiculous profit out of selling animals for sacrifice.

So, we begin to see a situation, first of all, of exclusion. The Gentiles were only allowed a little way into the Temple, women a bit further and so on until eventually there was only one person allowed all the way into the Presence of God and only once a year. We also see the Jewish relationship to sin and sacrifice. Just imagine all the visitors to the Temple all going to altars spread out in the different Courts and the constant burning of sacrifices to atone for sin.
This is the background to our passage from Hebrews.

As we 21st Christian now know: Jesus came to be the sacrifice which does away with all other sacrifices. The writer of the Hebrews says that Jesus did not go into a sanctuary made by human hands. He did not go into the Holy of Holies. At his Ascension he went back to heaven and there he prays to his Father for us. That’s why we end all our prayers with the words: “Through Jesus Christ our Lord”.

We have had some readings from the Bible recently which can give us the impression that we are all doomed because of our sins and failures. In Paul’s letters, we often read his list of those awful sins that we human beings are capable of and we could easily find ourselves wondering whether we are good enough to go to heaven after this life. In these days of remembrance, we are naturally thinking about those who have gone before us and maybe our thoughts sometimes turn to what has happened to them and where they are now. Our generations were taught right from wrong sometimes: very forcefully and this can leave us with the idea that we are not good enough or we always get it wrong and we should be this or we should be that. We are now turning in our thoughts towards Advent which is a penitential season in the Church. A season where it is traditional to take a bit of a hard look at ourselves, maybe fast and pray a bit more to allow us to be better Christians by Christmas. Then we run very swiftly towards Lent where we take an even harder look at ourselves.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t do this periodically. But let’s not get it out of proportion. Jesus opened a way to the Father for each of us individually to have a relationship with God: to pray regularly and tell God what is going on in our lives and what we need his help with. As a priest I do some things on your behalf. That’s a part of our ritual here on a Sunday but you don’t need an intermediary. Jesus came so that we could relate to God without that. We are saved sinners. No animals needed for sacrifice. There won’t be a debate about whether we get to Heaven. We are not excluded because we are the wrong sex or not a priest or even not the High Priest. We will not be excluded by the sins we commit either. We are all included. That’s very good news.

Intercessions:

United in the company of all the faithful
and looking for the coming of the kingdom,
let us offer our prayers to God,
the source of all life and holiness.

Merciful Lord,
strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit,
that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Bless Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all ministers of your Church,
that by faithful proclamation of your word
we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
into a holy temple in the Lord.
We pray for the work and witness of this church in Breckles, for our Benefice and for the Deanery of Breckland. We continue to pray for discussions taking place about the future shape of Breckland Deanery, for clergy who have retired in the past few months and for our curates: Tori and Adam.
We pray for Christians of all denominations who worship in this local area.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
We pray for those areas of our world where natural disasters have changed the course of peoples’ lives and for unjust regimes which oppress and terrorise the people.
We pray for our Queen’s health in her advancing years and for her family.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
We pray for all our health workers and those who care for sick relatives at home and especially for the staff and residents at Thorp House.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are spent in suffering and pain
that, raised from death to life in Christ,
their sadness may be turned to eternal joy. We pray today for …..
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Remember in your mercy all those gone before us,
preserve in your faith us, your people on earth,
guide us to your kingdom
and grant us your peace at all times.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
To crown all things there must be love, to bind all together and complete the whole.
Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God of peace,
whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the Kingdom
and restored the broken to wholeness of life;
look with compassion on the anguish of the world,
and by your healing power
make whole both people and nations;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Blessing:
Christ our King make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign with him in glory,
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

All Saints Day Service

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 12:57:55 GMT

All Saint's Day

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – All Saints Day
God of holiness,
your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example
with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings:
Isaiah 25:6-9
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
    a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
    the best of meats and the finest of wines.
7 On this mountain he will destroy
    the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
8     he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
    from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
    from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.
9 In that day they will say,
“Surely this is our God;
    we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
    let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Revelation 21: 1-6a
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

John 11: 32-44

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.

Homily:
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. All Saints Day is actually tomorrow but this is the nearest Sunday. In fact, today we are beginning a season of remembering. Today, we remember those special people who lived their Christian lives in the fullest possible way. On Tuesday this week, we will remember at our All Souls service those ordinary but special to us people who have been influential in our own lives, giving us a godly example to follow. We remember such people as our parents and godparents. Others too, who maybe by their friendship or by being there at a particularly difficult time in our lives, made a difference to us.
On 5th November, we remember something totally different. It’s not a church festival this time but an excuse for fireworks, toffee apples and bonfires as we remember Guy Fawkes and his friends who were unsuccessful in their attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. If there is a serious side to remembering on 5th November, its surely about knowing that attempts of terrorism will always be seized upon and the perpetrators punished accordingly. Then we move on after another week to remembering those who gave their lives that we might have freedom in the two world wars and in many conflicts since. We remember on the 11th and on Remembrance Sunday by hearing the names of the fallen and spending two minutes in silence to acknowledge what they did for us.

So, the Saints we remember today. Here we are in a church dedicated to St Martin. A few weeks ago, I wrote about St Martin on the pew sheet. St Martin of Tours was his full name. He was born in 316 in Hungary and converted to Christianity at a young age. He had started going to Church against his parents wishes at the age of 10. When he grew up, he became a soldier in the Roman cavalry in Gaul but he left in 361 when he decided to become a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers. Whilst still a soldier he is probably best known for cutting his cloak in two with his sword and giving half to a beggar who was dressed only in rags in the depths of winter. Those who became saints were always very devout and at some point in their lives took the decision to live Christianity on the edge. They often suffered and were martyred for their faith. Martin became a monk and regularly had dreams and visions of God who directed all that he did . At certain points in his life, he lived as a hermit spending the whole of his life praying. He used to live on a diet of herbs, and it is alleged that he ate hellebore on one occasion which he did not realize was poisonous. He was on the verge of death and prayed and was miraculously cured. He eventually established a monastery and became the third Bishop of Tours in 371. He was extremely reluctant to be consecrated bishop. Legend tells us that he tried to hide away in a barn full of geese but their cackling because he had disturbed them gave him away to the crowd who were searching for him.

Martin died in 391 and interestingly, in this season of Remembrance, he is commemorated on 11th November.

After these remarkable men and women who we commemorate today eventually all leave the rigours and sufferings they have endured in this life, they are received by God into their eternal rest and home. Our readings today concentrate on various accounts of what the next life will look like. It’s a life that is not just for the great saints we can read about. It’s the place we believe that our loved ones who have now departed this life have gone on and where we will go because we are all present day saints. Of course, we won’t know fully what it is like until we get there but we can get some hints when we read the words of the Prophet Isaiah, St John and Jesus himself. The readings tell us that it will be somewhere very beautiful: God will be with us in a more tangible way and there will be no more suffering because tears and pain are things of this life not the next. Whether it will be the permanent banquet on the mountain with rich food and wine which Isaiah talks about today, we will have to wait and see but it will be a place where poverty and homelessness will not be a part. I like the phrase which says: “and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth.” The saints had many experiences of being misunderstood and trying to live a good Christian life amongst people who openly berated and scorned them. We too are called to speak out for living a different kind of life and when we do, we are misunderstood. That won’t be a part of our next life.

Everything will one day be made new and those who have gone before us experience that now. We glimpse that eternal life here in our church services when we pray and praise God. When we decided to follow God, he gave us an eternal life which began at that moment and continues on through our earthly death and into whatever comes next. I don’t know who wrote this – it wasn’t me – but someone said: “we are citizens of this earth but our home is in heaven”. We can visit our heavenly home every time we pray and think about God. We can bring God’s presence into our everyday circumstances in order to change them for the good. The saints give us examples of how to live the Christian life. We too can be an example to others. Who knows but that we may have a saint in the making amongst us here!.

Intercessions:
United in the company of all the faithful
and looking for the coming of the Kingdom,
let us offer our prayers to God,
the source of all life and holiness.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Merciful Lord,
strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit,
that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
We pray for the work and witness of this church to the village of Thompson, giving thanks for all who have served in this place over many years and now enjoy eternal rest with God.
We pray for our Benefice and all who live within its boundaries.
At the end of this half term holiday, we pray for our schools and their teachers as they return and particularly for those teachers and children at Caston school who had Covid before the break.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Bless Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all ministers of our Church,
that by faithful proclamation of your word
we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
into a holy Temple in the Lord.
We pray for the Breckland Deanery as we continue to look at how best to care for our churches and for those who make the decisions regarding placement of clergy.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
We pray for Bishop Graham as he heads up the Anglican church’s response to environmental issues and for all who will be attending the COP26 conference.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Hold in your loving embrace all who witness to your love in the service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying
and all who bring light to those in darkness,
we pray for all those who look after sick and elderly relatives and friends.
We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin or disfigured by pain,
that raised from death to life in Christ,
their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
Today we pray for ……
Along with them we pray for all those who are lonely and feel unloved and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks
for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, through Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace to those who were far off and those who were near.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God, the source of all holiness and giver of all good things:
may we who have shared at this table
as strangers and pilgrims here on earth
be welcomed with all your saints
to the heavenly feast on the day of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
God, who has prepared for us a city with eternal foundations, give you grace to share the inheritance of the saints in glory ….
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Last Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 19:56:25 GMT

Last Sunday after Trinity

Readings:

Ruth 4:16-22
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,

19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

2 Timothy 3:14- 4:5
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their

itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Matthew 1: 1-16
1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Homily:

The Book of Ruth. So what? Have we just been studying a nice story for the past 5 weeks? Is it a true story? Why was it chosen to be in the Canon of Scriptures? Many such stories were rejected. There have been some things we have come back to again and again as we have been looking through the book in these past five Sunday mornings. Let’s have a quick look at them.

First of all, we have the town of Bethlehem. Naomi and her husband and two sons left Bethlehem when there was a famine there. They travelled to Moab and lived there for 10 years. Then Naomi and her only surviving relative: Ruth returned to Bethlehem because that was where Naomi’s family still lived. Boaz was a rich landowner in that district and it was where he won Ruth and took her as his wife. Last week we heard briefly of Perez the son of Judah: one of Joseph of the coat of many colours’ brothers. Perez of the tribe of Judah captured the region around and the town of Bethlehem. Years later when there was a census ordered by the Romans, a certain man took his pregnant wife to the town of his ancestors: Bethlehem where they were counted and she gave birth to a baby boy. It says in St Matthew’s gospel: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea in the days of Herod the King”.

In the genealogy we read today, Ruth’s baby Obed became the father of Jesse, the father of King David. King David was the greatest King that Israel ever had. He was fierce in battle and ruled his people with a great sense of justice. Most of the 150 psalms we have in the Bible were written by David. He was the unusual combination of a soldier and a poet. Later, when the people had lost their land and had been exiled, they longed for a King who would bring in a reign of peace where they would no longer be constantly at the mercy of cruel rulers: they looked to a time when they would be ruled by a King as great or greater than David. Their Saviour would be from David’s line. Bethlehem was the place where David had been born too. As the generations passed we discover that both Mary and Joseph are descended from King David. Jesus was certainly not the Saviour of the line of David that the Jews were expecting but he was of David’s line, nevertheless.

For our gospel today, we have the genealogy from Matthew’s gospel. If we look at that and compare it with the genealogy we read from the Book of Ruth for our first reading today, we can see that all the people mentioned are the same. We see a clear route from Abraham to Jesus. There are three people added to Matthew’s list, however. They are all women. The Book of Ruth only mentions the men. They are Rahab, Tamar and Ruth herself. Last week we were looking at how God uses people who are less than perfect to carry out his plans. When the Israelites sent spies into the Promised Land to see what the Canaanites were like and to assess how hard the battle was going to be, it was Rahab they went to and asked her to hide them in her house and protect them from attack by the King’s men. Rahab was a foreigner, a woman and a prostitute so she did not have much going for her but her care for the spies earned her lodging in Joshua’s house and eventually she married into the royal family of Judah. Tamar, we heard of last week. She deceived Judah into giving her a son. Not much to write home about with her either. And Ruth: a foreigner and a woman but the way she had treated Naomi had assured her of a great place in history.

We can’t do a lot about our history, who our family were, where we lived or who we associated with. It’s what we make of those early circumstances, however. God has a plan for each of us and he obviously uses our circumstances but enables us to be so much more than those. Jesus was born to a young woman who was not married. His earthly father was a practical tradesman – no one special. After no doubt enduring mocking and disapproval from the neighbours because Joseph had taken on a fallen woman, they had to leave town and go to Bethlehem. They did not return for a few years because King Herod wanted to kill any baby who seemed like he was after his throne. They became refugees travelling down to Egypt and lived in hiding until it was safe to return home. At 30 years of age, Jesus started his ministry. We assume he had to wait that long because Joseph had died and he had to provide for the family. His 12 disciples were a strange bunch and after only three years, he was arrested and put to death. On Good Friday it must have all looked like a complete failure but what we think of as failure God can turn into success. Three days later, he rose from the dead and within a short space of time his terrified followers had become the most confident speakers and preachers who travelled the known world converting and baptising people.

God can take whatever small thing we have to give and he can change it into part of his plan for the universe. Ruth shows us how little it takes to become part of history. Her kindness brought her to someone else’s attention and she was set on course for something much greater. We can all pray that God will use what gifts we have to further his kingdom and be a part of history.

Intercessions:
Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world
and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord,
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all through whom we receive food and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers especially those in our own Benefice,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered life that we depend on each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labour may be for the welfare of all.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all governments and aid agencies,
and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.
By the grace of your Spirit,
touch our hearts
and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,
and make us wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes
and all who are known to us, particularly ………
We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding
to all who work for their well-being.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died,
those we entrust to your eternal love
in the hope of resurrection to new life.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us
others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

God of grace,
as you are ever at work in your creation,
to fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us
and in all for whom we pray,
that with them and in all that you have made,
your glory may be revealed
and the whole earth give praise to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God of all grace,
your Son, Jesus Christ fed the hungry
with the bread of life
and the word of his kingdom:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread;
who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

20th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 15:01:39 GMT

20th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 20th Sunday after Trinity
God, the giver of life,
whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
by the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ
and make us eager to do your will,
that we may share with the whole creation
the joys of eternal life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Ruth 4: 9-15

9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”

11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Hebrews 5:1-10
5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Mark 10: 35-45

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Homily:

Amazingly, we have reached week 5 of our study of the Book of Ruth. We left Boaz last week in the marketplace, having become Kinsman Redeemer to the beautiful Ruth, whom he has fallen in love with. He has bought the property of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband and Ruth’s father-in-law. The property includes Ruth and Boaz is more than happy to take her and marry her. So, our reading begins with all the elders in the marketplace acknowledging that they are witnesses to the transaction. We can almost imagine them cheering and clapping as the whole deed has been done with such reverence and kindness and Ruth and Boaz obviously make a lovely couple.

The Jews still proclaim God’s blessing on pretty much everything and everyone. They are very aware of God’s provision for their lives and his prominent place within them. So, they wish blessings on the happy couple just as we would. As they bless them, they mention several other Old Testament characters and I’ve scored the Bible to remind us of them. The first people they mention are Rachel and Leah, both wives of Jacob who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. Between them these two women had 13 children. So, I think the blessing here is something about hoping that the new couple are fruitful and are given the gift of many children.

There is something more to it, however. I don’t know whether you have any black sheep in your family? If I let you into a secret: in my own, I can remember someone who came and went at family gatherings and no one really spoke about her and her relationship with my grandparents. She was referred to as “Auntie” when my parents spoke about her to me but as far as I knew, my father was an only child. There were always hushed parts of conversations about her and I never did find out the history. These days of course we are much more open about an illegitimate child, which she probably was but I was not encouraged to ask and definitely felt that what had happened in the past should stay there.

Anyway, back to Rachel and Leah. These Old Testament stories are fascinating. We can read in Genesis of the young man Jacob going back to his father’s land in order to find a wife. We should note that Jacob had had to flee from his home years before because he was basically a cheat and a liar. He cheated his older brother out of all of his inheritance and so he was not exactly welcome there any longer. But now he’s on his way back and as he stops at a well to drink and refresh himself, he meets Rachel who he instantly falls in love with. She turns out to be his cousin and in order to marry her, Jacob’s uncle makes him work for him for 7 years. Expensive bride! When the time comes for the wedding, her father sees a great opportunity for even more payback. He substitutes his older daughter Leah who is not so pretty and really needs to be married off first. When the veil is removed after the wedding poor Jacob discovers that he has in fact married Leah and he has to work for 7 more years in order to marry Rachel.

Moving on, by the time the Israelites eventually enter the Promised land they consist of 12 tribes, all named after the 12 sons that Jacob fathered with Rachel and Leah. We constantly see in these stories how God uses less than perfect people to carry out his plans.

One of the 12 sons was Judah, the one who had Joseph (the dreamer with the coat of many colours) sold into slavery. He was a pretty bad character too. He later found a bride for his first son. Her name was Tamar and she was a Canaanite woman. This was specifically forbidden as the Canaanites were the enemies of the Israelites and they worshipped pagan gods. When the son died, we know all about Levirate marriage now! Tamar married Judah’s second son. When he died, the third son was much younger and so Judah sent Tamah away to wait until the son was old enough for marriage. He did not keep his side of the bargain, however. Tamah, then took things into her own hands and disguised as a prostitute she seduced Judah. She gave birth to twins which because she was Judah’s daughter-in-law became Judah’s heirs. One of the twins was Perez. This is the disordered family which appears in our reading today. The witnesses in the marketplace bless Ruth and Boaz with children like that of Perez. Perez had obviously gone on to be well respected. He is thought to have been part of the tribe of Judah which had been given the land around and in Bethlehem.

However we mess up in our lives, God’s plan for us will come through in the end so long as we keep returning to him. In our services we always have a place where we confess our sins and hear God’s forgiveness. God called and calls those who sin, not the perfect to serve him. It’s unfortunate that when we slip up, there will always be someone to tell us we have slipped up but the Christian faith is not about guilt and shame. It is about us deepening our relationship with the God who wants us to be with him. The Story of the Garden of Eden is about a relationship between God and human beings which breaks down when we do wrong and do not ask for forgiveness. We can ask for forgiveness as often as it takes for us to acknowledge that we are loved by God and all he wants of us is that we walk with him.

We leave Ruth and Boaz for this week with a new-born son. At last some real happiness for Naomi too and some closure to the deaths and hardships of their life in Moab.

Intercessions:
Let us pray to God, the Lord of the Harvest,
that he will bring to fruition all that he desires for his creation.

Lord of creation,
we see that the fields are ripe for harvesting:
we pray for your Church and for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops
that it may be ready to gather fruit for eternal life.
We pray for the church in this village and in our Benefice, giving thanks for God’s guiding and provision this year. We give thanks for all wo worship here regularly and we pray for our efforts to reach our village with the good news of Christ.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

You have created the universe by your eternal Word,
and have blessed humankind in giving us dominion over the earth:
we pray for the world,
that we may honour and share its resources,
and live in reverence for the creation
and in harmony with one another.
We pray for those countries where the harvest has failed this year and people are starving. We pray for countries where there are no Covid vaccines or they are given to some people and not to all.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Your son has promised that the Spirit will lead us into all truth;
we pray for the community in which you have set us,
for one another and for ourselves,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace.
We thank you for the regular activities of our villages and we pray for an increase in our love and service of all.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

You have given your people a rich land,
yet by sin we made a world of suffering and sorrow:
we pray for those who bear the weight of affliction,
that they may come to share the life of wholeness and plenty.
We pray today for ……..
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Your Son Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of the resurrection
and will reap the harvest of the departed at the end of time:
we pray that he will gather us all together
with those who have gone before
into the banquet of the age to come.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Source of all life
and giver of all that is good,
hear our prayers and grant us all that is in accordance with your will;
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God our Father
whose Son, the light unfailing,
has come from heaven to deliver the world form the darkness of ignorance:
let these holy mysteries open the eyes of our understanding
that we may know the way of life,
and walk in it without stumbling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

19th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 13:27:57 GMT

19th Sunday after Trinity

19th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 19th Sunday after Trinity
O God, forasmuch as without you
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:
Ruth 3:14-4:8
14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.
16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”
Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”
4 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you[ will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”
“I will redeem it,” he said. 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” 6 At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” 7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)

8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”

Hebrews 4:12-16

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Mark 10: 17-31
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Homily:

We are now on to our 4th study of the Book of Ruth. We left the story at a crucial point last week. But first: a brief catch up. Naomi is a Jewish woman who left Israel with her husband and two sons because there was a famine. They settled in Moab which is foreign territory and the sons eventually married Moabite women. Naomi’s husband and both sons died there and Naomi then decided to go back home. Her daughter-in-law, Ruth refused to leave her and they arrived back in Bethlehem together to make a new life as widows.
Before long, Ruth meets a wealthy landowner named Boaz who is a family relative and we left them last week preparing to get married.

There is, however, something standing in the way of them marrying. We looked at the term “Kinsman Redeemer” last week. The Kinsman Redeemer was a close relative in the family who could marry the widow of a man in order to preserve his property and the line of inheritance. Boaz just happens to be a Kinsman Redeemer but there is a closer relative who has the right to marry Ruth before him. You notice that in those days women were treated rather like property. They were passed on along with a piece of land.

So, Boaz sets off early the next morning in a calculated attempt to win his bride. All trading and important dealings took place at the city gate. It was also a kind of outdoor court where the esteemed and honourable men sat. Judicial matters were resolved by the elders and those who had earned the respect of the people. It was a place for business and a public meeting place for debate.
As we have seen already, Boaz was a very honourable man and it was important to him to win Ruth in the proper way, although it was risky for him as he might have lost her, but even so he follows all the rules. There is, however, just a small omission in what he tells the Kinsman Redeemer. He makes the transaction sound very attractive and that he wants to help him acquire it. “I just thought I should bring this to your attention” he says, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab is selling her deceased husband’s land. You are first in line to buy it and I am next”.

The ploy gets the Redeemer’s attention. “Yes, I’ll buy it” he says. “O, there’s just something else. The trade includes a son’s widow and that means you have to marry her in order to have the land as well”. This was not so attractive to the man who is never named in the story. The writer of the book of Ruth clearly does not think much of him and so does not preserve his name for everyone to read about. He is worried that marrying a foreigner may endanger his estate. What does he think she will do? Get more Moabites together and threaten him and his land and take it back by force? Maybe he thinks that others will not think so well of him if he is married to a Moabite woman and other peoples’ opinions are important to him. Probably he is already married and so taking home a foreign bride might not go down too well with wife number 1. Whatever, he clearly does not know Ruth like Boaz does. This is a young woman who has devoted her life to her mother-in-law and her land and people without too much thought for how it would be for her. Deals were done in those days with the exchange of a sandal. The Kinsman-Redeemer hands over his sandal and Boaz is free to buy the land and marry Ruth.
The elders present are witnesses to what has happened and Boaz can go home, his plan fulfilled.

I don’t know what happened to it now, but I used to have a lanyard which I wore an ID on which had the letters WWJD on it. The letters stand for “What would Jesus do?” and I’ve seen rings and bracelets showing the same letters on occasions.
I started to talk last week about how the main characters in the book of Ruth have an integrity and will to do the best they can for everyone else. Ruth’s kindness towards her mother-in-law goes way beyond what would have been expected. Boaz’s kindness to Ruth who comes as a poor widow to his fields goes beyond what would have been expected, quite apart from the fact that she is an attractive young woman and true love is developing between them.

When we have a decision to make which affects someone else or we run into a disagreement, we have various choices about how to react. The “What would Jesus do?” is a reminder that we are followers of someone who revolutionized his world at the time. He spent time with those who society rejected: women, foreigners, lepers, Pharisees. He listened to them, healed them and led them into new places of understanding. He openly spoke out against injustice and having too many rules and regulations. The ongoing dilemma for us, his present-day followers, is to pray through and work out what Jesus would do if he were in our situations. Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, of course, predate the earthly birth of Jesus so they are very much people of the Old Testament times but they had the same choices. Whether to treat people well, basically, or to be out for all they could get. The Kinsman-Redeemer we have read about today is a stark example of someone who was only thinking about himself. It’s never an easy life being a Christian because most of the people we deal with have ideas about how we should behave based on something they have learnt at some time and are quick to tell us what we should be doing. Sometimes we have to work for justice in a situation even if it upsets others. We have to treat people well even when they have treated us badly. We have to love and forgive especially those who don’t merit love and forgiveness. It is a constant journey towards being a true disciple.

Intercessions:

Let us pray to God, the Lord of the Harvest,
that he will bring to fruition all that he desires for his creation.

Lord of creation,
we see that the fields are ripe for harvesting:
we pray for your Church and for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops
that it may be ready to gather fruit for eternal life.
We pray for the church in this village and in our Benefice, giving thanks for God’s guiding and provision this year and since we came into being.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

You have created the universe by your eternal Word,
and have blessed humankind in giving us dominion over the earth:
we pray for the world,
that we may honour and share its resources,
and live in reverence for the creation
and in harmony with one another.
We pray for those countries where the harvest has failed this year and people are starving. We pray for countries where there are no Covid vaccines or they are given to some people and not to all.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Your son has promised that the Spirit will lead us into all truth;
we pray for the community in which you have set us,
for one another and for ourselves,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace.
We thank you for those activities in our villages which are beginning to start up after lockdown and we pray for caution and peace amongst those who are still fearful.
We pray for our schools in Caston, Thompson and here in Great Hockham and for the staff and residents at Thorp House.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

You have given your people a rich land,
yet by sin we made a world of suffering and sorrow:
we pray for those who bear the weight of affliction,
that they may come to share the life of wholeness and plenty.
We pray today for ……..
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Your Son Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of the resurrection
and will reap the harvest of the departed at the end of time:
we pray that he will gather us all together
with those who have gone before
into the banquet of the age to come.
We pray for all those we have loved who have now departed this life.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Source of all life
and giver of all that is good,
hear our prayers and grant us all that is in accordance with your will;

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Holy and blessed God,
you have fed us with the body and blood of your Son
and filled us with your Holy Spirit;
may we honour you,
not only with our lips
but in lives dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Trtinity 18 - 3rd October

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 20:05:07 GMT

18th Sunday after Trinity

Ruth ch2:19-ch3:13

19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!” Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said. 20 “The LORD bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.” 21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’” 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.” 23 So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

3 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight, he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

10 “The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.

Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honour
8     and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them

Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;

in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

Mark 10:2-16

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Homily:

We reach the third instalment today of our study of the Book of Ruth and as today I am sharing this spot with Peter and his Farmer’s Ramblings, I need to be brief. Last week we left Ruth gleaning in the fields of Naomi’s relative Boaz. As widows Ruth and Naomi were afforded certain privileges like gathering any grain which had fallen whilst being harvested and the protection of gleaning at the edges of the field.

Today we need to look at another custom in order to make our study easier to understand. Last week we looked at Levirate marriage where when a man died, it was the responsibility of the man’s brother to marry his widow and give her at least one son who then was able to claim the dead man’s property as an inheritance and keep it in the family. But what happened if the man had no brothers? Today we read of the solution to that. Naomi remembers that Boaz is in fact a special kind of close relative of the family.

This man is known as a “Kinsman Redeemer” because it was his job to redeem the property of the dead man and allow the family to inherit if there were no brothers. He was like a chieftan in the family, a special representative not just any relative. Naomi realizes she has found a solution for Ruth. She knows that she will not always be there to look after her and is aware of her precarious position as a young attractive woman in a foreign land. So, the two of them hatch a plot to help Boaz to notice Ruth although as we saw last week, he seemed to be well aware already of this beautiful woman and invited her to sit at the table with him and receive tasty morsels of food.

Marriage was very simple in those days. A young woman who wished to marry a man just simply went and lay down at his feet whilst he was sleeping. If he then spread his cloak over her they were both agreed: they were married. All this was done with the background of the Kinsman Redeemer. Ruth was not being provocative: she was urging Boaz to take up this Israelite tradition and save her from widowhood and all her husband’s possessions being given away to someone else. Boaz was delighted when he got over the shock of a young woman asking him to marry her. And he viewed the proposal as another example of Ruth’s great kindness which she had showed to Naomi. Boaz was obviously an older man, surprised by the younger, beautiful woman finding him attractive.
We end with a problem, however, and true love is not ready to run smoothly yet because Boaz may be a Kinsman Redeemer but he is not the one closest to Ruth and it has to be that closest person who has the first opportunity to redeem her. He knows and tells Ruth that he must speak to this closest relative first but if he does not wish to marry Ruth, Boaz will marry her.

I don’t know about you, but this book is full of people who show real kindness and integrity to one another. They really seem to want the best for everyone. We have not come across any kind of villain up to this point. How much easier would our lives be if everyone we met did everything they could to create unity and peace amongst others? If they treated everyone with the respect which they themselves would ask of others. Life is very hard sometimes, we lose the people we love, we do not get on in our jobs and our families have problems. The Naomi, Ruth, Boaz triangle shows us people who had all kinds of problems and they could easily say that life was unfair but they always seemed to hold everyone else in the highest esteem and just got on with things. An example to us, perhaps?

So will Ruth and Boaz marry? We will see next week.

Intercessions:

Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world
and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord,
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all through whom we receive food and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers especially those in our own Benefice,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered life that we depend on each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labour may be for the welfare of all.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all governments and aid agencies,
and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.
We continue to pray for Afghanistan.
By the grace of your Spirit,
touch our hearts
and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,
and make us wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes
and all who are known to us, particularly ………
We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding
to all who work for their well-being.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died, particularly Vera Rosa Halls, whose funeral took place this past week and
those we entrust to your eternal love
in the hope of resurrection to new life.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us
others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

God of grace,
as you are ever at work in your creation,
to fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us
and in all for whom we pray,
that with them and in all that you have made,
your glory may be revealed
and the whole earth give praise to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
We praise and thank you, O Christ, for this sacred feast;
for here we receive you,
here the memory of your passion is renewed,
here our minds are filled with grace,
and here a pledge of future glory is given,
when we shall feast at that table where you reign
with all your saints for ever. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Trinity 17/Harvest Thanksgiving

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 07:52:39 GMT

Trinity 17/Harvest Thanksgiving

17th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 17th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Ruth 1-11-13, 22-ch2:18

11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!”

22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

2 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favour.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek. 4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The LORD be with you!” “The LORD bless you!” they answered. 5 Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?” 6 The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.” 8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” 11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” 13 “May I continue to find favour in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.” 14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

James 5: 13-20

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Mark 9: 38-50

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [ 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die,and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with each other.”

Homily:

We are now on our second homily in our series of 6 on the Book of Ruth. So, just a brief catch-up for those who were not here last week. We met two of our three main characters: Naomi and Ruth. Naomi and her husband had left Bethlehem with their two sons because of a famine in the land. They settled in Moab (foreign territory) where Naomi’s husband died and the two sons married Moabite women. Then the two sons also died and Naomi decided to go home to Bethlehem. Today we find her arriving in Bethlehem with one of her daughters-in-law: Ruth, who had refused to leave her and has now adopted Israel as her home and Naomi’s God as her God.

Today we need to look at a couple of Jewish traditions in order to understand the passage. First of all, we have something called Levirate marriage. It is explained in the Book of Deuteronomy. If a man dies childless, it is the responsibility of the man’s brother to marry the widow. Then their first child becomes legally the child of the dead man and therefore inherits all of his land and possessions. That is the point of Naomi’s speech at the beginning of today’s reading. She tells Ruth that she is too old to re-marry and even if she is able to and she has a son immediately, how likely is Ruth to wait for the child to grow up and marry her? Naomi is telling Ruth to go back to her own land and find a new husband there. This would mean, however, that Ruth’s dead husband’s land and possessions would then be allocated to someone out of the family.

The second tradition is the way that the Jews treated their widows and orphans and the poor in general. These people were treated with immense respect and everyone understood this and complied with it. Collections for charities were not needed because everyone just gave automatically to those in need. In the New Testament after Jesus’ death, 7 deacons were appointed in order to distribute food to the widows and orphans. They were so well taken care of that they were taking up all the apostles’ time with all the things they were allowed to receive and they were unable to do the teaching and healing work of the church. So, we see Ruth going to the fields of a local well-known land-owner and gleaning grain which was always left specially for widows and orphans to collect. The edges of the fields were not harvested so that the widows and the poor could go there and collect what they needed. Also, if any grain fell to the ground during the harvesting, it had to be left where it fell so that the poor could pick it up and take it away.

Now we meet our third main character. His name is Boaz and we are told that he is a wealthy landowner and he is a relative of Naomi’s. We know also that Ruth is the kindest daughter-in-law. After all, she has left her own home and family and gone back with Naomi and now lives with her. We don’t see Ruth staying at home and making the elderly Naomi hunt for their food and other essentials. Ruth goes off in this foreign land, where she finds herself, and very quickly with Naomi’s tuition, learns the correct way of doing things. The romantics among us may be beginning to see something developing between Boaz and Ruth but that’s probably for next week. When Boaz returns from a business trip he becomes aware that there is an unknown young woman gleaning in his field. After asking around he discovers that she is the one who had been so good to his relative Naomi. So, he tells her that she is welcome to stay in his fields along with his own women employees so that she will be kept safe from those who might try to rob her or attack her. Life was very perilous for any unprotected young women in those days. He even invites Ruth to eat at his table with his workers and gives her special morsels of food. Every evening Ruth returns home to Naomi with all she has worked for.

The Jews have a word in Hebrew for “loving kindness”. It is “chesed.” I’m not sure I’ve pronounced it properly. It has the idea of kindness and love towards God as well as the love and mercy of God towards mankind. It is a difficult word to translate but it has the meaning of action as well as a feeling. We have now met two characters in the Book of Ruth who show this loving kindness towards another. Ruth to Naomi and Boaz towards Ruth. It’s the way we are meant to behave towards others as a result of our love of God and our assurance of His love for us.

It’s the feeling which makes us give to Foodbank or to charity or our time to a neighbour, even though they don’t show the same kindness to us. Ruth, the foreigner could have stayed in Moab and turned her misery of life around there but she sacrificed that opportunity in order to stay with someone devastated by losing a husband and two sons. The Book of Ruth is also about hope. As they arrive in Bethlehem, the final verse of chapter 1 tells us that “the barley harvest was beginning”. That was the setting for the rest of the book. Naomi had left Bethlehem when there was a famine. She arrives back just as the better times are set to arrive. Although we don’t do good deeds in order for a reward, we see Ruth being treated well because of her kind treatment of her mother-in-law. We do good because it makes the light of God shine a little brighter in our corner of the world and may encourage other to be kind as well.

Last week I asked you to remember a fact: that Naomi and Ruth lived in Bethlehem. We will see the significance of these facts at the end of our study, I hope, because I am still taking each study as it comes!. Today’s fact is: both Ruth and Boaz showed loving kindness to foreigners.

Intercessions:

Let us pray to God, the Lord of the Harvest,
that he will bring to fruition all that he desires for his creation.

Lord of creation,
we see that the fields are ripe for harvesting:
we pray for your Church and for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops
that it may be ready to gather fruit for eternal life.
We pray for the church in this village and in our Benefice, giving thanks for God’s guiding and provision this year and since we came into being.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

You have created the universe by your eternal Word,
and have blessed humankind in giving us dominion over the earth:
we pray for the world,
that we may honour and share its resources,
and live in reverence for the creation
and in harmony with one another.
We pray for those countries where the harvest has failed this year and people are starving. We pray for countries where there are no Covid vaccines or they are given to some people and not to all.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Your son has promised that the Spirit will lead us into all truth;
we pray for the community in which you have set us,
for one another and for ourselves,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace.
We thank you for those activities in our villages which are beginning to start up after lockdown and we pray for caution and peace amongst those who are still fearful.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

You have given your people a rich land,
yet by sin we made a world of suffering and sorrow:
we pray for those who bear the weight of affliction,
that they may come to share the life of wholeness and plenty.
We pray today for ……..
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Your Son Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of the resurrection
and will reap the harvest of the departed at the end of time:
we pray that he will gather us all together
with those who have gone before
into the banquet of the age to come.
We pray for Vera Halls, who has died this past week.
Lord of the harvest, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Source of all life
and giver of all that is good,
hear our prayers and grant us all that is in accordance with your will;
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Lord, we pray that your grace may
always precede and follow us,
and make us continually to be given to
all good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

16th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 07:44:07 GMT

16th Sunday after Trinity

Ruth 1: 1-22

1 In the days when the Judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. 8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” 14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. 15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” 22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

James 3:13-4:3,7-8a
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Mark 9:30-37
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Homily:

Now I have to say that some of my ideas or even inspirations come at the last minute. When I started to think about the fact that we had decided to hold Harvest services at all 6 churches this year, I thought that having a sermon series based on one book of the Bible could be a good idea. In the middle of a really busy week, I started to plan how I would divide up the Book of Ruth which has 4 chapters into 6 sections. I got into such a rushed confusion that I decided to leave that aside for this week and just preach on chapter 1. So, what I am saying is that I’m not at all sure where this will go and how it will turn out but I’m up for a challenge.

One reason I have been so busy this week is that we have all been taking part in Clergy Conference. I decided to do it on-line which turned out to be a good idea because basically I could do things at different times to everyone else and (don’t tell the Bishop) I have not finished everything yet. They all finished on Thursday teatime. I digress. One of the speakers at the Conference was Bishop Emma Ineson who has just become Bishop at Lambeth Palace. Did you know that the Archbishop of Canterbury has his own Bishop? Anyway, Bishop Emma was telling us about her husband when they go on holiday. He is the eternal optimist and if it is pouring with rain, he will scan a distant horizon and say: “Look, it’s brightening up over there”.

Today, we meet two of the main characters in the Book of Ruth and one of them is the eternal optimist and the other is the eternal pessimist.

Naomi is the first of our characters. Now I would probably be a pessimist if I had had a life as unfortunate as Naomi. We celebrate a season of plenty today at our Harvest celebration. Chapter 1 v1 tells us that the Book begins with a famine in the land of Judah. Just as this village used to be much more dependent on the produce of the land, Israel and Judah needed grain, obviously to eat and feed their animals but also to trade. Famine meant untold suffering and death of many people and animals. Elimelek, Naomi’s husband realized the danger they were in and made a great sacrifice for his family. He, his wife and their two sons left their home in Bethlehem where they had lived all their life and they travelled to Moab. (Incidentally: remember the fact that they lived in Bethlehem until our final week on this book.) Moab of course was not Judah and the people there did not worship God. Elimelek and his family had to try and maintain their faith in a land where they had no where to worship and no one to talk to about their religion.

Then disaster struck for the family. Elimelech died. Meanwhile, the boys both married Moabite women. That’s not surprising as there were no other Jews around. We are not told but it must have been difficult for them to practise their religion whilst married to foreign women. After they had lived in Moab for ten years the sons also died. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were left alone. In verse 6 we read: “When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, they prepared to return home”. Naomi must have been desolate: losing a husband and two sons. I’m not surprised she lay all this misery at God’s door. Throughout this passage we see her blaming God.

As they all leave Moab, we meet our second main character: daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi does her best to persuade both girls to stay in Moab so they can re-marry. She knows that being foreigners in the land of Israel will not be easy for them. But Ruth is not going anywhere. We have that wonderful verse where she says: “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” The family obviously had been able to hold on to their faith in Moab. Where had Ruth learnt it and determined to follow it than at home with Naomi and Elimelech? She radiates the faith she had learnt. “Look, it’s beginning to brighten up over there”. Ruth is optimistic that God will go with them.

I have someone who comes to see me to talk about her faith. She is now a grandma and one day a week she looks after her little grandson. None of her three children practise the faith anymore but Jan teaches all of her grandchildren about God and Jesus just as she did her own children. They went to see Dippy the Dinosaur in the Cathedral and she taught them that they should kneel in church to say their prayers and she showed them how. A few months ago, her mother died and in her car, Jan left photos of their great grandmother doing ordinary things with them all. As she drove the children around from school and to various activities, she just let them pick up the photos when they wanted to and remember and talk about their loss and that Great Grandma is in Heaven.

We all taught our children and grandchildren the stories of our faith and possibly took them to church and maybe Sunday school. These days maybe they don’t want to talk about church and they don’t teach their own children, but at times of stress and disappointment they have a Christian foundation which they can and do access. I remember my Sunday school teachers and am still grateful to them for spending time with me all those years ago.

For Ruth, being a part of a devout family, seeped into her unconscious and when Naomi needed her, she was prepared to give up everything for her.

Intercessions:
Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world
and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord,
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all through whom we receive food and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers especially those in our own Benefice,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered life that we depend on each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labour may be for the welfare of all.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all governments and aid agencies,
and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.
We continue to pray for Afghanistan.
By the grace of your Spirit,
touch our hearts
and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,
and make us wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes
and all who are known to us, particularly ………
We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding
to all who work for their well-being.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died,
whom we entrust to your eternal love
in the hope of resurrection to new life.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us
others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

God of grace,
as you are ever at work in your creation,
to fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us
and in all for whom we pray,
that with them and in all that you have made,
your glory may be revealed
and the whole earth give praise to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Almighty God,
you have taught us through your Son
that love is the fulfilling of the law:
grant that we may love you with our whole heart
and our neighbours as ourselves;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

15th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 21:34:37 GMT

15th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 15th Sunday after Trinity

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit
upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:
grant that your people may be fervent
in the fellowship of the gospel
that, always abiding in you,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue,
    to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears;
    I have not been rebellious,
    I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
    Who then will bring charges against me?
    Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.
    Who will condemn me?

James 3:1-12

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Mark 8: 27-38

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Homily:

This morning’s question (we are getting used to Sunday questions now). What is your greatest achievement in life? Is it your marriage and your children? Is it maybe a job you have done or something you have achieved through a hobby? Is it more down to earth? Your garden or your home or something you have learnt to do? Is it something simpler? Maybe after a really difficult time in life, you discovered something or became something? Or is it the people you have met or the opportunities which have come your way?

Our gospel reading today is found right in the middle of St Mark’s gospel. Jesus is halfway through his ministry and his life on earth and it’s time for him to take stock of what he has achieved and to ask himself what others make of who he is. It is amazing that he chooses to do this in Caesarea Philippi. It is, for a start, outside Galilee: his home territory. It was governed by Philip and not by Herod like the rest of the places he visited and worked in. On the hillside above it was a cavern where it was believed that Pan, the Greek God of nature was born. From a cave in the hillside, a stream gushed out and this was thought to be the source of the River Jordan. The River Jordan figured in all the narratives where the Israelites were battling for their own Promised land. Further up the hillside, there was a shining white marble Temple: dedicated to Caesar, the Roman Emperor who was viewed by the Romans as the ruler of the world and worshipped as a god and the Jews were only tolerated at best.

Jesus views all this scene and takes all his courage in his hands and asks: “Who are people saying I am?” It’s very much the day of reckoning for him. Has his teaching produced the right results? Does this group of men get it? In that glorious but pagan place, who do they think this homeless Galilean carpenter is? We know that on several occasions Peter becomes their spokesman and this is no exception. “You are God’s anointed one”, he says. Right answer, Peter. Almost three years of teaching has achieved what Jesus set out to achieve. Jesus knows after this epic discovery, they will travel together to Jerusalem where he will suffer and die before rising again three days’ later.

But Peter doesn’t like the part where Jesus talks of his suffering and death and so he speaks up and argues with him. The problem is that the disciples have a different view of God’s anointed one to Jesus’ view.

The Old Testament is the story of the Jewish nation chosen by God to be in a special relationship with him. As the stories unfold of Abraham and Jacob and Moses and the prophets, we see the nation moving further away rather than nearer to God. They were always a tiny nation and they had to fight hard to keep hold of their land. Later on, they were actually exiled from their land and as they lost their grip on God and their homeland there began, in the biblical literature, to be a hope for the emergence of a great leader who would use supernatural powers to defeat their enemies and restore their land. Jerusalem and their Temple would one day be theirs again. This is the backdrop in Caesarea Philippi. The Romans are in control and the Jews are not worth very much. Around the time of Jesus, several men claimed to be this long-awaited Messiah. It was thought that Barabbas who was released when Jesus was arrested for claiming to be the Messiah.

The Jews believed that one day God would give them victory over their enemies through this great leader. The Messiah would ride through the Golden Gate into Jerusalem on a great warhorse and they would belong to God again. Peter had it right: Jesus was the Messiah but he would not be riding on a warhorse. Jesus would show them how to defeat their enemies by laying down his life. The one who wants to save his life must lose it. The one who wants to be first must be last. The one who wants to be a leader must serve. The one who wants to be at the head of the table must start at the other end.

From this point on in Mark’s gospel Jesus talks more and more about the true cost of discipleship. We all know some of the cost here in these churches. On Tuesday our new Bishop, Jane came to visit us. She saw how inaccessible some of our churches are and how we manage with no facilities. She knows because she was briefed before she came, that money is short and has been made shorter by Covid. She saw our average age and talked at length with people about our hopes and fears. Our call in these times is to keep on keeping on. We have been given these buildings and we have to make sure they are available when people need them as far as we are able. They are beacons of hope to people who don’t know that is what they are. I think that Bishop Jane will be our support and our champion. I felt more hopeful about the Church of England than I have for a long time on Tuesday. You might be interested to know that at supper later the clergy were talking to her and I told her that you had had interim ministry for 5 years here and that I am due to finish in December. I was astounded: she rang up the day after and asked to see me. We could not find a time until the end of October but I really look forward to speaking more with her about this Benefice. Meanwhile she is going to check some things out with the Archdeacon. I think we might have found a friend.

Intercessions:

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
you promised through your Son, Jesus Christ
to hear us when we pray in faith.

We pray for your Church worldwide, particularly in areas where it faces persecution, and for the Church here in Stow Bedon and all it does to serve and promote your mission. We pray for all the churches in this Benefice, for the churchwardens and members of the PCCs.
Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ,
that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,
live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our world and those areas where there is conflict and unrest. We continue to pray for the people of Afghanistan and all refugees feeling that country.
We pray for all those who hold positions of authority in national and local government and for all managers and leaders of businesses and in the professions. We pray for our Royal Family:
Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority,
and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace;
that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for these villages and for our witness through our prayers and deeds to all who live within them. For the children and all who work in our schools and for the residents and staff of Thorp House.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,
that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all those in physical, emotional, mental or spiritual need and for those who continue to suffer as a result of Covid-19. For those who never ask for the help they need. For all agencies working to alleviate suffering.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, especially …..
give them courage and hope in their troubles;
and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ, remembering our own loved ones who have departed this life.
According to your promises,
grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints,
We commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy;
and, because without you our human failty cannot but fall,
keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful,
and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

14th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 18:27:35 GMT

14th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 14th Sunday after Trinity
Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23
22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2 Rich and poor have this in common:
    The LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
4 Humility is the fear of the LORD;
    its wages are riches and honour and life.
5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
6 Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.

James 2:1-10, 14-17

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Mark 7: 24- 37

24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Homily:

Last week, we left Jesus battling as usual with the scribes and Pharisees and telling them that it was not the outward signs of handwashing and the keeping of all the other 600+ rules which defined a true follower of the faith. He was more interested in how people treated others.

The crowds who were needing things from Jesus and his disciples were constantly jostling and shouting and opposition was clearly rising. So, we begin our passage this morning with Jesus arriving in the Syrian city of Tyre, some 40 miles from Capernaum. We don’t know how long it would have taken them to walk there but the days covered by this passage would have been ones where Jesus could change gear and spend some concentrated time teaching his disciples and resting from the perpetual clamour of people and constant questioning of his motives by the religious leaders.

Tyre had an impressive harbour and its sailors sailed all over the known world: trading with other nations. They were the first people to navigate by the stars. It also had a good fortress and so was not invaded too much or conquered. The cities of Tyre and Sidon were very independent within an area of around 15 or 20 miles: they had their own Kings, their own gods and their own coins. It would seem to be no accident that Jesus ended up there as in the previous passage we see him telling the Jewish authorities that just keeping a load of rules around their religion would not save them when God’s judgment comes and ensure them a place in God’s Kingdom. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities. Jesus is beginning his mission to those who were not born Jews in order to show that God’s Kingdom is for all.

The healings we see in this passage are also different from earlier miracles. We first meet a woman who asks for help for her daughter who is afflicted by evil spirits and then a man who is deaf with a speech impediment. It is not the type of miracle which is different but the way Jesus heals them. In the first case, he enters into an intellectual, yet humorous debate with the woman. We can almost imagine him smiling knowingly as he banters with her. He basically says, I think with tongue in cheek, to her: I’m not sure I can heal your daughter because the Jews are the ones who should be healed first. He is saying that his mission is first to the Jews. The woman is very quick to reply, however, and says that there must be some healing left for Gentiles after all the Jews have been healed. It is all very good-natured. Although in translation we have the word “dogs” used by Jesus of Gentiles, the word he actually uses is that of a little puppy or lap-dog. He is diffusing the situation. Gentiles were used to being called dogs by Jews in the sense that some people today might use the word “bitch”. Jesus has enjoyed their exchange and the woman leaves, her daughter healed.

Jesus and his disciples then travel on through Sidon back to the Sea of Galilee. Now I understand from a commentary I read that if you were going from Tyre to Galilee you would not go through Sidon: it is South and you need to go North. So, another 60 miles of walking and talking with the disciples. Maybe preparing them for this mission that they are now beginning to witness. A mission they will all head up after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Back in Galilee, the crowds and no doubt the authorities catch up with them again and they meet the man who is deaf with a speech impediment. Here we find another new aspect to Jesus’ healing: he uses ordinary, everyday things to heal the man. He puts his fingers into the man’s ears, then puts spit on his tongue before pronouncing that he is healed.

Here this morning we are celebrating one of the church’s sacraments. A sacrament is where we use ordinary, everyday things in order to point to something much deeper and spiritual. In our Holy Communion service, we will use ordinary bread and wine which when it is blessed will become in a way we don’t understand: the body and blood of Jesus. It will help us to become as close to God and He to us as is possible in this life. We also use the sign of the Cross to show that our sins are forgiven and that we are blessed as we leave.

In a Baptism service we use the sign of the Cross, oil, water and light; just ordinary things but with the deep spiritual significance of a child beginning a new life with their sins washed away and shining their own light in the world as a follower of Christ. In a Marriage service, we use a ring to symbolize an unending circle of love, of the man for the woman and vice versa and as it is in church, the unending love of God for them.

In our everyday lives we see many signs of God’s presence with us. In our gardens we can see the yearly cycle of death and resurrection. We can also unfortunately see the effects of our lack of care for the environment in crazy weather patterns and natural disasters which are on the increase. I don’t think that Jesus did anything without thought for what he wanted to teach his disciples then and us as we read his word today. God continues to use the signs we see around us to help those with eyes to see and ears to hear to be the best followers we can be. As we give thanks for the signs of life and bounty we see around us, we are also drawn to how we can preserve everything we have been given for future generations.

Intercessions:
For the peace that comes from God alone,
for the unity of all peoples,
and for our salvation,
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

For the Church of Christ, for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops
and for the whole people of God throughout the Anglican Communion.
We pray for the church here in Great Hockham and all who work and have worked in the past to show God’s presence in this village. For all who live within the boundaries of our Wayland Group of churches. For all who faithfully come to church every week: for our continued fellowship and love for one another.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

For the nations of the world, particularly praying for those where there is unrest and suffering. We continue to pray for the people of Afghanistan and for those who have now become refugees as a result of the Taliban takeover of the country. We pray for relief agencies working at full capacity particularly those in Norfolk who are raising money and providing support.
For Elizabeth our Queen and for all in authority. For those within our government and professions whose task it is to stabilize our economy and make decisions during this time when the pandemic still affects our work and home lives.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our schools as they return this week after the summer break. We continue to pray for all those involved in farming in this area and we ask that there will be the weather conditions necessary to complete the harvest. We pray for ourselves and one another, our immediate neighbours and those we meet as we go about our everyday lives.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

For the good earth which God has given us,
And for the wisdom and will to conserve it,
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

For the aged and infirm,
For the widowed and orphans,
For the sick and suffering.
We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House and for all those being cared for in their own homes or other places.
For …..
And for anyone else in need,
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

For the dying, for those who mourn,
for the faithful whom we entrust to the Lord in hope,
as we look forward to the day when we share
the fullness of the resurrection,
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Lord God, the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

13th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 15:18:11 GMT

13th Sunday after Trinity

Readings:

Song of Solomon 2: 8-13

Listen! My beloved!
    Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,
    bounding over the hills.
9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
    Look! There he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
    peering through the lattice.
10 My beloved spoke and said to me,
    “Arise, my darling,
    my beautiful one, come with me.
11 See! The winter is past;
    the rains are over and gone.
12 Flowers appear on the earth;
    the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
    is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
    the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
    my beautiful one, come with me.”

James 1: 17-27

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Mark7: 1-8, 14, 15, 21-23

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” 6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;

their teachings are merely human rules.’

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Homily:

Another question for you. Very easy this time. Where is your favourite place? Mine is in North Devon. About 1.5 miles from the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth lies the Valley of the Rocks. It is on the edge of Exmoor, where huge rocks over the years have fallen from the cliffs and lie in the valley. I have travelled through that valley many times by taxi and can never get over the sheer beauty of turning and seeing the sea for the first time right there. All that, however, is not my favourite place. My favourite place is just a little beyond the Valley of the Rocks and is called Lee Abbey. You may have heard of it. You may have been there. Just a few weeks ago, Lee Abbey celebrated 75 years since its dedication. It was in 1946 that a group of Evangelical churchmen found the place they had been searching for to become a Centre of Evangelism in the South of England. The magnificent Gothic style manor house had previously been a hotel and a boys’ public school but by then, it was completely rundown.

The group had nothing much to buy it with, but they knew it was the place. One of them received a legacy just in time to secure the building and they were then able to get a mortgage. 75 years later it is still a Retreat and Christian holiday centre. Run by a Christian community of lay, mostly these days, young people who come from many different countries of the world to give a year or two to living in community. In the beginning it was not like that. Several people had quickly caught the vision and they gave up their jobs, sold their possessions and moved there to dedicate their whole lives to making the vision a reality. Miraculously, like the original legacy, Lee Abbey survived the pandemic and is now opening to guests again. Many, many people over the years have been encouraged by the ministry of Lee Abbey. Many have been converted to Christianity through the ministries of the Community or the annual camps or more recently through the work of the Beacon: a Christian schools education base. There are now branches of Lee Abbey in London (where they provide a Christian hostel for overseas university students) and in Birmingham, Bristol, Plymouth and London where small communities live together and work and witness to the local area.

As I remembered all this, I realized what an amazing venture or even adventure I have been a part of since I first went there in 1973. I was a member of the London community for a year in the 80s before going to Theological College. Those four original Evangelical clergymen had a vision for something which they pursued against the odds and God did the rest. St James in our New Testament reading today calls it being doers of the word and not just hearers.

The Valley of the Rocks is also famous for the mountain goats that leap from rock to rock and are able to stand on the tiniest ledge hundreds of feet above ground. Our reading from the Song of Solomon today uses the image of God as a mountain goat who is able to leap from the heights to the depths to be with those He loves and who want to follow Him.

There is a story: it’s an allegory a bit like “Pilgrim’s Progress.” It was written after the author read this passage from the Song of Solomon. She writes that there is a seed of love planted in every human heart which draws them to God and can bring them back whenever they are tempted to stray. We are forever travelling from the depths to the heights of human experience and back again. The main character in the story is called Much-Afraid and she is a follower of the Good Shepherd. He has promised her that she will one day leap across the high places like a mountain goat. The book is called “Hinds feet on High Places”. In the beginning, the Good Shepherd plants the seed of love in her heart and as she journeys the seed begins to grow. Her companions on the journey are known as Sorrow and Suffering and as the story unfolds, we see Much-Afraid negotiating her fears through a life where she is accompanied by sorrow and suffering with the help of the Good Shepherd who always leaps to her aid when she calls. I won’t spoil the story by telling you what happens in the end, but I think you can guess. It has a happy ending.

I think we can have one of two reactions to the list of terrible sins which Jesus warns the crowd of in our Gospel passage. They are the sins which the human being is capable of. We know that from our study of history and our reading of the news. So, we could say: “Well, at least I’m not that bad” or we could become depressed and say: “Perhaps I did slander that person” or “perhaps I am too proud”.

We need to remember that neither of these reactions is the full story. Yes, we are better than we thought but sometimes we discover that we are also worse than we thought. Our hearts are the seat of our emotions and the place where our true feelings begin. We have all had a seed of love for God and others sown in our hearts and how that seed will grow depends on the influences we choose to have in our lives and the journey we choose to take through whatever sorrows and sufferings occur. The friends we choose help us to navigate well or not so well. The way we treat others helps the seed to grow or not. The way we treat those we do not agree with or those who appear to be out to get us increases or diminishes our ability to love.

We know that we can always call on God: the “Good Shepherd” through prayer when we need help in our life situations. The more we call, the closer He will become to us and us to Him. When the situation is so bad that we find it difficult to pray, we can ask others to pray for us. In a few minutes we will pray as a community for our needs and for the needs of those who have asked us to pray. There is always strength in numbers.

Intercessions:

As our bodies constantly breathe,
may the Church, the body of Christ,
constantly pray,
breathing God’s life into all its members and activities.
We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and the Anglican Communion throughout the world. We pray for this Church and for all those who work to keep it clean and repaired for us and for the generations to come: for their imagination and creativity and for strength to go on in the face of opposition.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the new week begins in our world,
may wrong priorities be challenged and adjusted,
may our societies reflect God’s concern
for righteousness, true justice and love,
and may all leaders grow in humility,
attentive to the needs of those they serve.
We pray for all displaced people within our world and for aid agencies working to support them.
For countries where Covid still rages among the people and for those leaders who choose to use their budgets for arms rather than food and vaccines.
We pray for the leaders of this nation and for our own MPs.
We pray for all who work on the land at this time when the harvest is reaching completion. We pray for the right weather in order to gather in the crops and we ask that you protect all those who do this work. We pray for the farms of this Benefice and those who work on them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer,

As we call to mind our loved ones,
all who depend on us,
and those on whom we depend,
all with whom we laugh, cry, work or play;
cleanse and refresh our relationships
and give us greater love, understanding and forgiveness.
We pray for all those we meet when we shop, travel and go about our everyday lives.
We pray for our schools as they prepare to return from the summer break and for the residents and staff of Thorp House.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We think of those who are in prison,
locked in cells or depression or disabled bodies;
we think of those in hospital wards and treatment centres,
those unable to reach medical help
and those on long waiting lists for operations,
as we think of them all, we pray for them all.
And today we pray for ……..
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember the dying and those who love and care for them;
We remember those whose earthly life has come to an end,
and we commend them to God’s undying love.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

With love in our hearts
for God our Maker and Redeemer,
we choose to walk in his ways
through this day and all our days.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God our creator,
you feed your children with the true manna.
the living bread from heaven:
let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage
until we come to that place where hunger and thirst are no more;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Triity 12, 22nd August

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 15:46:57 GMT

12th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:

The Gloria:

The Collect – 12th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

1 Kings 8: v.22-30, 41-43 Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today. 25 “Now LORD, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true. 27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

41 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

Ephesians 6: 10-20 The Armour of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

John 6: 56-69

56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them. 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Homily:

A few weeks ago, I asked us all a question. “Who do you think you are?” “Who do I think I am?”
Today I have another question for us to consider and this one is even harder. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask everyone individually.

Here’s the question.

“Would you be prepared to die for your faith?” “Would I be prepared to die for my faith?”

Thankfully, there are still a few remains of this being a Christian country. Possibly the only thing I have had to suffer this morning is my neighbours twitching their curtains and wondering why I pack up my car every Sunday morning and drive over to take your service when they are having another cup of tea or doing the garden or whatever else they love to do. I find that most people in these villages that I meet outside of church are attracted rather than repelled by a woman wearing a clerical collar and want to talk about our buildings and usually the number of churches in Norwich. Unfortunately for us since the pandemic, coming to church is not as comfortable and risk-free as it used to be. Our buildings were closed for a time, we were not able to sing or move around freely when we did open. Now, we still have restrictions placed upon us. But, that’s not too difficult. The rest of life has restrictions.

But what if we had to meet in secret today? The country of Afghanistan has been in our news for the past couple of weeks. The shocking situation there is that so many soldiers lost their lives trying to maintain peace in that country and extremely quickly the Taliban has now taken control and thousands of people are trying to flee their oppressive regime by desperate measures because they know that their lives are at serious risk. There is a very small minority of Christians in Afghanistan, less than 3% of the population. Most of them are converts from Islam and the persecution they have always faced comes mainly from their own family members who remain Muslims. They have never been able to meet openly so this new take-over can only make things worse for them. They meet in secret in house churches. There used to be one Catholic church in the Italian Embassy but that has been closed down. Open Doors, which is a charity which provides prayer literature and supports persecuted Christians believes that Afghanistan is second on their list, after the Sudan, for extreme persecution. Conversion from Islam can be punished by death or imprisonment. Torture is common place.

Jesus predicted persecution. We only need to look at his own life and death to see that Christianity was born out of persecution. The land of Israel is a tiny country but one that major powers have always wanted to get hold of because it was at the centre of several major trade routes. At the time Jesus was born, the Romans were the occupying power. They exacted huge, crippling taxes from the Jews and had battalions of soldiers stationed throughout the land to quell any uprisings which might develop. They mostly just let the Jews get on with fulfilling the requirements of their religion. However, we have heard several times in the past few weeks of the various kings known as Herod who were not happy about what they saw as threats to their powerful position. Herod the Great had all the baby boys under 2 years old killed in order to get rid of Jesus. Herod Antipas killed John the Baptist because he was outspoken and drew the crowds.

In the early days of the Christian church, Jesus’ followers had to meet in secret. The Romans did not intend to let what they saw as a subversive sect meet together and the Jewish leaders were afraid of them too. Peter and the other disciples wanted to continue worshipping in the Temple and Synagogues as Jews but their practice of meeting together to share a meal and remember Jesus by eating bread and drinking wine soon meant that they were hounded out and killed. But we know that their numbers kept on growing and the message kept on spreading to all known parts of the world. China, another country where Christians are persecuted has the highest growth of new churches than anywhere else in the world.

In our gospel reading today, we see some people deciding not to continue following Jesus. We have seen up to this point crowds of people following Jesus wherever he went, all wanting something from him. They took their sick in order to be healed. Wherever he went, people heard about him and it was increasingly difficult for him to find anywhere to rest or eat. From amongst those crowds, people began to be attracted to his teaching and they followed in order to learn more and become his disciples. Then Jesus begins to teach them that to follow would mean that more would be required of them than getting their earthly needs met. Jesus was more than a healer, a preacher or a deliverer. It was when he started to teach them that he had come from heaven and that those who continued to believe in him would have a new kind of life, that they started to leave. They could not understand that the life they were being promised was eternal. This was new teaching that they had not heard before. New teaching can often be seen as threatening to peoples’ views of life.

Knowing we have eternal life makes a difference to how we live this first part of the life we have been given. As Christians we believe that we go on in some way after our stint on this earth. We know that things don’t always go as we expect. We get ill, our friends and members of our family die. We are misunderstood, we have financial difficulties sometimes, things don’t always turn out in our favour. But somehow and we don’t always understand how, we know that things will turn out well in the end. St Paul urges us to keep on until we reach the final goal, that of life with God.

Intercessions:

We have chosen to serve the Lord.
Let us pray to him now.

We pray for those whose faith
is being challenged or undermined
by inner doubts or outside influences.
We give thanks for those who were strong influences in our lives and
all those who continue to build up our faith.
We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops
and all who strive to proclaim the Gospel
in language that people understand.
We pray for all Christian missionaries and Bible translators.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for our torn and fragmented world,
And those working for peace amidst those who work for power.
We pray for the people of Afghanistan at this time as troops prepare to leave,
that many may have the courage to walk God’s way.
We pray for this church of St Peter and Paul giving thanks for all who have served and continue to serve God here.
We ask your blessing on Pippa who will be baptized here later today. For her parents and relatives gathering to give their support.
We pray for this Benefice and all we try to do in cooperation to further God’s Kingdom.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our loved ones;
for those who give us encouragement day by day.
For those we meet or work with whom we warm to
and those with whom there are frequent misunderstandings.
We thank God for our opportunities of forgiveness.
We pray for our neighbours.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who are marginalized,
Scorned or rejected.
For those isolated through illness or imprisonment
And for those who feel that no one understands.
Surround them all with such love
that they may know they are precious to you.
We pray for the residents and staff of Thorp House and for …….
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those approaching death,
that through our prayers they may know themselves
accompanied with love on that journey.
We pray for those who have died
that they may come to know the full joy of heaven.
We remember those who lost their lives at the hands of the gunman in Plymouth last week and those who are shocked and are mourning.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We thank you, Holy God,
for making yourself known to us,
both in daily living
and in church, in the breaking of bread.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:

We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:

God of all mercy,
in this eucharist you have set aside our sins
and given us your healing:
grant that we who are made whole in Christ
may bring that healing to this broken world,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

15th August 2021

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 19:37:34 GMT

Blessed Virgin Mary/11th Sunday after Trinity.
Sunday 15th August 2021

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – Blessed Virgin Mary
Almighty God,
who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:
grant that we who are redeemed by his blood
may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:
Isaiah 61: 10-11
I delight greatly in the LORD;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
    and praise spring up before all nations.

Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Luke 1: 46-55
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

Homily:
Today we celebrate one of several festivals of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. We celebrate her Assumption: when she was taken into heaven. We would not expect that the mother of God’s Son would just die like any other human being. For her, she was miraculously taken away.

As I was preparing for this talk, I began to think about the preparations we make for the birth of a child. Even before conception, there are plans to be made. There are finances and jobs to consider. There is the home to think about. Maybe the new baby’s room to decorate. Then as the woman’s pregnancy progresses, there are all the things to buy. Then there’s when to tell our friends and relatives. These days there’s the baby shower to organize. And what about childcare after maternity and paternity leave? How will the finances stack up? Maybe, but in less and less families now, there will be a christening to consider. If you are a member of the Royal Family, you will be preparing to fit into a quite rigid system of having your baby in a particular hospital and the birth being announced by a notice on the gates of Buckingham Palace. You probably will be considering very early on the schools your child will attend for the life he or she will inhabit later in life.

God, the Father of the Universe, decided to send His only Son into the world and He had to make preparations. Those preparations had to reflect who He is and who His Son would turn out to be. For example: who will he choose to be the mother of His Son?
Week by week in church, we read three portions of Scripture. The first is from the Old Testament, the second from one of the Epistles and the third: a Gospel passage. They follow a theme for the day. Sometimes its quite difficult to work out what that theme is and large chunks of the Bible are missed out in order to concentrate on the theme. I don’t know if you have ever read the Bible from cover to cover? That’s no small task as books like Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Revelation are very hard going. Basically, however, the Old Testament is the story of God’s love for the Jewish nation which resulted in the birth of His Son.

An earthly baby needs to be born at a certain time and in a certain place and Jesus, who was fully human as well as fully God, needed to be born as a human baby and grow into a human being. Through the pages of the Old Testament we see God’s relationship with a group of people. God wants to Father them and have a close relationship with them but they are often enticed away by the thoughts of better things: new gods and new horizons. God did not and does not create puppets who he keeps on strings. He wants his people to choose to worship Him and pray to Him. And when they choose not to, he sends people like the Judges and Prophets to help them return to Him. Eventually this small Jewish nation is defeated in battle by higher powers and exiled from their land. All the time, God is trying to draw them back into relationship with him.

We reach the end of the Old Testament age and nothing happens for 400 years. It’s like God is silent. We might call it a pregnant pause as God considers His next move. He knows that He has to make the ultimate sacrifice for His people: to be born as one of them and die in order to end the separation once and for all. God knew the plan from the beginning of time of course and knows hos it will all turn out. Remember the Magi: the Kings who followed a new star and went to visit Herod in his palace because the star heralded the birth of a King? Herod knew nothing about new baby Kings but he did know the Jewish prophecies of a Saviour for the people and he was terrified. So, if we were God, we might put a new baby King in a palace with robes and riches and his mother would undoubtedly be the Queen. He would grow up with the best nurses and tutors and all the resources of the nation would be his.

But we are not God and He had something better planned although it didn’t look like it at the time. There was a young girl, probably between the ages of 12 and 14. She was betrothed to (we believe) an older man. Betrothal was like engagement but much stricter. It lasted for 12 months before the wedding and could not be broken off without causing a lot of bad feeling for the one who broke it off and gossip from the rest of the community. Betrothal was like marriage. The couple went through a commitment ceremony and pledged themselves to one other. After 400 years of silence, God knows it is time and he sends the Angel Gabriel to tell this young girl: Mary, that she has been chosen to bear His Son. And we celebrate her decision and her life because she agreed. She agreed to all the neighbours gossiping about her: the pregnant, unmarried, betrothed young girl. It didn’t get much worse than that. They gossiped about Joseph too and he was tempted for a while to divorce her. Fast forward 9 months and Jesus is born after they had been forced to travel to Bethlehem for a census. Then they are on the run for several years, trying to escape Herod: refugees and outcasts.

So, why did God choose to reject the comfortable life in the Royal Palace for the life of the poorest of people who were rejected and cast out? Mary sums it up in our Gospel today. It’s a very familiar reading for those of us raised on Evensong: The Magnificat. God raises the humble and feeds those who are hungry to know Him better. He helps those who act as servants and promote others above themselves. Those who believe themselves rich and do not help the poor and those who are proud and haughty, only thinking of themselves, he leaves to their own devices. The 13- or 14-year-old girl who gave up a life of comfort and respect in order to care for God is honoured and praised. Those who seek God in prayer and worship and do all they can to serve Him in the world are the ones He draws alongside and blesses. He knows at first hand the rejection people feel because he was rejected. He knows the hurts that people can inflict on us because they were inflicted on Him.

Intercessions:
Let us pray to God our Father,
knowing that we are precious to him.

Father, we thank you for all those
who give to support the work of the Church;
bless our giving, guide our spending,
and help us to value the true wealth
of your abundant love.
We pray for this church and village of Breckles, giving thanks for all through the ages who have served and continue to serve.
We pray for the whole of this Benefice in this part of Breckland. We ask you to bless everyone
who lives within our boundaries.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

We pray for the world’s economy;
for fair management and distribution of resources;
for fair trade and just wages;
for greater awareness and concern about injustice;
for a commitment to our responsibilities
as sharers of the same planet.
We pray for our world’s leaders, particularly in those areas where there is violence or natural disaster.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all parents with young children,
thanking you for them
and asking you to bless and guide their parenting;
we pray for families in debt;
for those whose homes have been repossessed,
And for those whose financial security
Makes them forgetful of your love.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are burdened
with financial worries
and all who struggle to make ends meet,
all over the world;
and all those who do not know God’s love for them.
We pray for those who are suffering at this time, in body, mind or soul.
Particularly today we pray for ………..
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have died in the faith of Christ,
especially for: Dee Youngman who died recently.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Father, we give you thanks
for the generosity of your love for us,
which lasts beyond death into the whole of eternity.

Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
For the sake of your Son,
Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God most high,
whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh;
we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption
you visit us with your Holy Spirit
and overshadow us by your power;
strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience
and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Trinity 10 - 8th August

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 19:26:32 GMT

10th Sunday after Trinity

2 Samuel 18: v.5-9, v.15 and v.31-33

5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. 6 David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword. 9 Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in mid air, while the mule he was riding kept on going.

15 And ten of Joab’s armour-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
31 Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.” 33 The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Ephesians chap 4:25- chap 5:2

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 6: 35 and v.41-51

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Homily:

A week or two ago I watched “Who do you think you are?” It was about Olivia Coleman. Now, I liked Olivia right from the time I saw her in the rather weird sitcom called “Rev”. I like her portrayal of The Queen in The Crown and I have seen her in other things. In “Who do you think you are?” she met up with her family to discuss family history. They were not terribly helpful but they did think that there was a woman from France somewhere in their history. Olivia thought that everyone had been born in Norfolk and she discovered that it was actually very late on that the family arrived in Norfolk. And just as the final credits were about to roll, we discovered who the French woman was. She had been born centuries previously, so how anyone knew anything about her, who knows?

So, who do you think you are? It’s a question I ask myself regularly. Usually as I stand at the altar and bless bread and wine for us to share. How did I get here? Who do I think I am? Last Friday was the Feast of the Transfiguration and Revd Kyla and I were in Broom Hall drinking Pimms and eating a very civilized tea, celebrating a year of being ordained as priests. A year down the line, she is curate in charge of Watton church and I am interim minister here. If I pedal backwards for a year, however, I remember standing before Bishop Jonathan and him firing questions at me. It’s not surpringly described as “The Examination” in the Ordination Service. When people talk about their ordination, they sometimes say that when all the priests present laid hands on their heads, they felt the great weight of responsibility given to them. Kyla said that. For me, it was those questions, as each time I looked up Bishop Jonathan was piercing me with his eyes over the masks we wore for the first time in church that day.

Here are a few examples:

Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and fit you to bear witness to the truth of the gospel?

Will you strive to make the love of Christ known through word and example and have a particular care for those in need?

Will you be a faithful servant in the household of God, after the example of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve?

Will you endeavour to fashion your own life and that of your household according to the way of Christ, that you may be a pattern and example to Christ’s people?

Jesus was constantly being asked who he thought he was. A few weeks ago, we heard of his family coming to take him home because they believed that the things he was doing showed he was insane. Today we have the Jews scratching their heads because this carpenter’s son was saying that he had come down from heaven. Throughout the Gospels, there is always a confusion around who he is and particularly in St John’s gospel he is always trying to explain. Today, he says, ‘I am the Bread of Life” but he also says: “I am the True Vine” “I am the Good Shepherd” and “I am the Light of the World”. Then he unpacks what he means.

So, who do you think you are?

Our Epistle gives us some clues today, not so much about who we are because that is clear, we are Christians. But how do we behave if we are Christians? Does it make any difference to our everyday life? Sometime in the past – we don’t need to know when – or it will expose a group of people – I led a housegroup. They were a very motley crew who freely admitted that reading the Bible did not fill them with pleasure. I found that getting beyond 10 minutes of reading and discussion was practically impossible as at that point someone would ask if we wanted another cup of tea or another would ask a totally off-subject question. That group also saw no connection between what we did in the group and the life they lived. So, they continued to use profanities and tell lewd jokes on Facebook. They spoke a lot about their wonderful church at the same time as they talked about working without paying tax. They were lovely people really. They entertained me no end.

St Paul tells the Ephesians about the Christian life. About speaking the truth, not sinning when we get angry, not stealing and sharing what we can with the needy. We are told to build people up with what we say rather than running people down. About not being bitter about the way we are treated and being kind and forgiving. All qualities which are for the most part difficult to achieve, at least, most of the time. We don’t have to look very far in the life of our villages in the last few weeks to see how we have been challenged to live differently by those who seem not to struggle with these things and just basically do and say what they like. The really hard thing is that they are waiting for those who profess to being Christians to slip up and let our anger get the better of us or become bitter about something.

Who do we think we are?

We are children of our Heavenly Father and clearly we are not perfect. We know that. Those who put our services together knew it too. At the beginning of every church service we confess our sins together and hear God’s absolution. A kind of cleaning up of those things where we know we have slipped up in order to move off again. We are forgiven sinners. We know our need of forgiveness and we know that God is merciful and extends his mercy to us. This doesn’t mean that we don’t try to live purer lives because we know we will be forgiven anyway. We try in the knowledge that we will slip up at times but that we have a safety net.

Who do I think I am?
Who do you think you are?

Intercessions:
For the peace that comes from God alone,
for the unity of all peoples,
and for our salvation,
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

For the Church of Christ, for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops
and for the whole people of God throughout the Anglican Communion.
We pray for the clergy of this Deanery and Stephen Thorp our Rural Dean.
We pray for the local churches as they go into vacancy through retirement. For Revd Kyla now leading Watton church until a new Incumbent is appointed. For Revd Jane as she retires from Ashill, Saham Toney, Carbrooke and Ovington later this month. For those whose task it is to appoint clergy to those Benefices and this one.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

For the nations of the world, particularly praying for those where there is unrest and suffering.
For Elizabeth our Queen, Charles, Prince of Wales and William, Duke of Cambridge.
We pray for all those in positions of leadership in our nation whether at local or national level and in the professions, particularly in medicine and science.
We continue to pray for all health workers, for their safety in this time of pandemic.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

For this village of Thompson and all the churches in this Benefice: for our neighbours and our friends. For all we do to promote peace and the love of God to those we live amongst.
For all children and their teachers now on holiday, farms and other places of work.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

For the aged and infirm,
For the widowed and orphans,
For the sick and suffering.
We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House and for all those being cared for in their own homes.
For …..
And for anyone else in need,
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

For the dying, for those who mourn,
for the faithful whom we entrust to the Lord in hope,
as we look forward to the day when we share
the fullness of the resurrection,
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God of our pilgrimage,
you have willed that the gate of mercy
should stand open for those who trust in you:
look upon us with your favour
that those who follow the path of our will
may never wander from the way of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Trinity 9 - 1st August

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 14:40:30 GMT

Trinity 9: Sunday 1st August 2021

2 Samuel 11:26- ch12:13a

26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.

12 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4 “Now a traveller came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveller who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ 11 “This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

Ephesians 4:1-16

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

John 6:24-35

24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Homily:

As some of you know: during lockdown I was part of a scheme which was set up in Swaffham to provide a shopping and prescription service for the elderly and those who were classed as clinically vulnerable. When we finished the service, we discovered that most of our people were still unable to do their own shopping as they were a year more disabled or had lost their confidence in going out. So, some of the team took on an elderly person and committed to doing their shopping as a friend. I was doing holiday cover for one of the team this week and our gospel reading today came to mind as I encountered Tesco’s bread aisle. Normally for myself, I know which bread I buy, and I can motor straight in and pick up the bread rolls or whatever without a second glance. My mind is blown these days, however, by the range of bread that we can buy. My lady needed a Hovis Seed Sensation and so I carefully checked all the wrappers and eventually found one. I also found Hovis Lower Carb Seeded, Hovis Original 7 Seeds Bread, Warburtons Seeded Batch and Tesco Finest Superseeded Farmhouse Loaf. And that’s just the seeded bread. I could also have bought white rolls, brown rolls, bagels or sandwich rolls. I could go on, but I think you get my point.

Today’s gospel passage is all about bread. The crowds were searching for Jesus because they wanted something from him. Jesus is clear with them when they catch up with him. He says “ you are looking for me because I fed you. (The miracle of the feeding of the 5000 had just taken place) You say that you are looking for signs of heaven, but you actually want to have your stomachs filled”. Then he tells them, “don’t work for things which perish but work for those things which are eternal, that last forever.”

The affluent part of our world is for the most part interested in instant gratification and the things that temporarily stave off hunger, the pain inside. Tesco wouldn’t stock so many different types of bread if there wasn’t a demand for it. When the pandemic started, we saw how some people immediately rushed to the shops to buy basic commodities like toilet rolls and pasta. I have a photo of two friends of mine standing next to an empty fridge in Waitrose. People were messaging on Facebook to say who had just had basic commodities delivered so that others could target that shop and go and get what they wanted. I found that the only food my cat will eat was out of stock for weeks. He survived, by the way!

The people wanted to be fed by a miracle so that they did not have to take responsibility for their own needs because as we saw in lockdown that is a risky and stressful business. They basically said: “well, when our people were in the wilderness, Moses fed them with manna, so why can’t you continue to do the same?” They had missed the point. Moses was not providing the Israelites with food. Every evening God performed a miracle for them. Every morning they were able to go out and collect manna and quails. It was all so organized that on Fridays they were able to collect double what they needed because Saturday was the Sabbath when they had to take a day of rest. On other days, they collected only what was needed to feed their families because any extra would have perished. They were being taught to only take what is necessary for the day.

Today, as every Sunday, we will enact here the real spiritual significance of Jesus saying that He is the Bread of Life. Jesus, when he was at the Passover supper with his friends took ordinary, everyday bread, blessed it and it became in some miraculous way his body which would be given up for his friends. Then he took ordinary, everyday wine, the sort that the people drank all the time, blessed it and in some miraculous way it became his blood. That’s the sign that the people were asking Jesus for. When we eat and drink here at Holy Communion, something happens, something of spiritual significance, and we are changed as a result. We become people who have an eye on the eternal. We try to love others a bit more. We try to be there a bit more for our families and friends. We try to argue less and keep the peace more. We have learnt that no ordinary person can satisfy our needs. Even if Tesco were to stock even more bread, finding just the right type would not satisfy for long. Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the True Vine and the Good Shepherd. He makes the difference to how we choose to live our lives.

We can pray for others and situations, and they will change because we are miracle people. We can see the signs of a world which increasingly rejects God, but what we do here every Sunday enacts for those who don’t want to be here but, nevertheless belong to us, God present in their midst. Today we are here in Stow Bedon after more than 16 months. We have enacted Jesus’ death and resurrection here throughout this pandemic (when we were allowed to be open) by celebrating Holy Communion when it was this church’s turn for a mid-week service. The local people don’t know what we do here, but we do. It’s a selfless act. It’s the opposite of buying up all the pasta. As we take the bread and wine, we do so on behalf of the community. When we pray for our communities in the Benefice, we offer something on their behalf. And God performs miracles. We find it hard, of course. We don’t have all the people we need. We don’t have all the money we need. But we do have God on our side and that’s what Jesus was urging the people to notice. God can multiply our meagre resources. He fed 5000 people from one boy’s packed lunch. Our part is to continue to offer ourselves for others and watch and wait.

Intercessions:
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
You promised through your Son Jesus Christ
to hear us when we pray in faith.
We pray for the Anglican Communion throughout the world and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops. For all those preparing to stand for General Synod and for decisions on the agenda dealing with the effects of Covid-19 on the Church as a whole. We pray for this parish of Stow Bedon and for our Benefice, for all who live and work within this area.
Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ,
that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,
live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for our world, particularly areas where there is oppression and persecution and for Western Europe which still suffers from the effects of flooding. For those who are having to leave their homes as a result of harsh governments or natural disasters.
We pray for world leaders and our own government and MPs as they try to balance the return to a healthy economy with the need to be cautious about the spread of the virus.
We continue to pray for all those who work in the National Health service and in medical research.
Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority;
and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and peace;
that we may honour one another and seek the common good.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for the roads and streets where we all live, for everyone who lives and works or visits there. We ask You to bless all our friendships, and give peace and health to all those we live amongst.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,
That we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who are in need at this time. For those who are suffering as a result of the virus, physically, economically or emotionally. We pray for those whose mental health has deteriorated as a result of lockdown and not being able to see family. We pray for those who have no one to pray for them and no one to care for them.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, especially …….
Give them courage and hope in their troubles;
And bring them the joy of your salvation.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ,
according to your promises,
grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Botolph and your saints,
we commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen

The Peace:
Peace to you from God our Heavenly Father.
Peace from his Son Jesus Christ who is our peace.
Peace from the Holy Spirit, the life-giver.
The peace of the triune God be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer :
Holy Father,
who gathered us here around the table of your Son
to share this meal with the whole household of God;
in that new world where you reveal the fullness of your peace,
gather people of every race and language to share in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:
God the Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace …
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Trinity 8

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 14:24:07 GMT

Feast of St James / 8th Sunday after Trinity

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

2 Corinthians 4: 7-15

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Matthew 20:20-28

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favour of him.21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Homily:

The dust sheet of the book about this character might read:

This biography is the best-seller of all time. Here is an ordinary man with a simple life, until he hears an invitation to go deeper. A passionate man with a feisty nature. An apostle among followers, a favourite among apostles.
Mysteries and a violent ending. An evolving biography.

A clue might be my red stole today. Red is for when the church commemorates martyrs of the faith.

It’s St James! The older brother of St John. The two of them were amongst the first disciples called by Jesus. They were fishermen in business with Peter and Andrew. Their mother was Salome, thought to be the half-sister of Jesus’ mother, Mary. Their father was Zebedee. So that would make them Jesus’ cousins. James’ brother was commemorated on December 27th. I can remember writing about him for the service in the Waylander last year when we were in one of our lockdowns. If I had been talking about him today, my stole would have been white because as far as we know, he was the only apostle not martyred and he died of extreme old age on the island of Patmos. He wrote three epistles and he was known as the disciple Jesus loved.

So, who was this older brother who doesn’t get one of the very special feast days after Christmas? We don’t know very much about him, but we know that most of the references to him come from St Mark’s gospel. He was born in Bethsaida and was about the same age as Jesus. He and John are well-known for asking Jesus if they could sit on his right and left when they got to heaven. We have been following Mark’s gospel for a few weeks and that is the passage we might have read today. However, the lectionary gives us Matthew’s version of the story where it is in fact their mother Salome who brings her sons to Jesus and asks on their behalf. Possibly its easier to see a pushy mother asking for benefits for her sons than to think that they were the ones who wanted a special place in the Kingdom. I don’t think they were particularly quiet, submissive men though. Jesus called them the Sons of Thunder, so they probably had quite a temper when life did not suit them. On one occasion they offered to destroy a whole city when Jesus was rejected there.

Jesus did give them some special treatment in this world, however, even though he didn’t say that they could sit next to him in heaven. Along with Peter, they often went off away from the other disciples with Jesus. They went up the mountain and saw Jesus transfigured. They also went with Jesus to the Mount of Olives on his final evening before his arrest. They were present at the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law.

Our novel, however, is a mystery story because the gospels don’t say very much about James after the death of Jesus. We know he was present when Jesus appeared in the upper room the third time and we know that he was present at the meeting that voted in Judas’ replacement as an apostle. Where James went as a missionary to spread the good news we don’t know for sure. In Acts, the only mention, is when we read of his death as a martyr.
“Herod the King (Herod Antipas) stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Acts 12:1-3).
This would make him the first Apostle to be martyred. Stephen was the first Christian martyr but he had not been with Jesus.

So, what’s the point of me getting out a red stole today and us using the special prefaces and collect for St James? Could we not just as easily carried on with Trinity 8 and green? The answer is “yes” of course but I think that what happened after James’ death is interesting because, in a way like Jesus, James’ life goes on and his story is not finished. He very much lives through other people.
Tradition has it that after Jesus’ death, James made a pilgrimage to the Iberian peninsula to spread the word of Jesus. He then returned to Jerusalem but after his death, his remains were taken back to what is now Spain and are said to be buried in a place called Santiago de Compostelo. St James is actually the patron saint of Spain. Many miracles surrounded the transportation of James’ body until they eventually stopped under an oak tree at the top of a hill and its there that the Cathedral of Santiago stands today.

You may have heard of the Camino Santiago de Compostela. It’s becoming more and more of a pilgrimage destination with several different routes now across France and Spain all converging on the Cathedral. A couple of movies have also been made about the Camino. Perhaps the best known is called “The Way” where a father travels to France to bring home the body of his son who died while walking the Camino. As he walks and talks with people on the way, he realizes more about his own life, who he is and why he decided to walk. Pilgrimages have become very popular in recent years whether they involve walking in solitude for hundreds of miles to reach a holy site or walking around the labyrinth in Norwich Cathedral or in the grounds at St Mary’s Watton. Pilgrimages are about the repetition of walking or repeating a prayer or talking with a companion until something we don’t understand in life begins to make sense. As we remember St James, we can remember the particular contribution he made to our European Christian tradition when he came to Spain and taught about Jesus. His legacy might seem quite Roman Catholic to us: people walking to a place where a Saint has been buried since the sixth century. The popularity of the Camino, however, shows that there is something universal about seeking to know more about God. Many people would say that they are not religious but they are spiritual.

I recommend the movie “The Way” if you have not seen it.

Intercessions:
May the Spirit pray through us
as we try to put into words the longings of our hearts
for the Church and for the world.

Father, we thank you
for all in our lives who have helped us to pray
and to grasp something of your great love and power.
We ask your blessing and empowering
for all who teach and minister in your name;
we ask for our Sunday worship to be an overflowing
of our daily walk with you,
and an expression of our deepening love.
We pray for all teachers and children now on summer holiday.
For our Bishops Graham, Alan and Jane and all clergy and laity in this diocese.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Father, we thank you for the beauty and diversity
of the created world we inhabit.
We ask for the wisdom to tend it carefully,
respecting the natural laws and sharing the resources,
listening to the weak and those with influence equally,
the poor as well as the wealthy.
We pray for all who work on the land, particularly in this Benefice.
We pray for our care of these buildings and our churchyards as our heritage and our hope for the future.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Father, we thank you
for the innocence of the very young
and for the joy of friendships,
for all with whom we share our daily life,
and those we love but seldom meet.
We ask for hearts that are skilled in listening,
So that we discern and respond to the real agendas.
We pray for this church of St Peter and St Paul and for all we try to do here to spread the love of God.
We pray for Pippa, to be baptized here on 22nd August, for her parents and two sisters.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Father we thank you
for the advances in medical knowledge
and the hope of new treatments for many diseases.
We pray for all in medical research
and all whose lives are crippled or disadvantaged
by illness, frailty or damage.
We give thanks that our medical experts have discovered the vaccines which enable us to be more free at last.
We dedicate our lives afresh as we more out of restrictions.
Give comfort and reassurance,
healing, wholeness and peace, particularly today to …….
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Father, we call to mind
all those we have known and loved
who lived among us and have now died.
We pray for all who made that journey
unnoticed and alone.
We ask that they may know your mercy
and the everlasting peace and joy of heaven.
We pray today for: Olga Robinson whose funeral took place this past week.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Father, we thank you for your wisdom and truth,
your understanding and generosity.
We acknowledge our total dependence on you,
and praise you for providing us with all we need.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Lord God, the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

7th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 15:41:21 GMT

7th Sunday after Trinity

2 Samuel 7: 1-14a

After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.” 4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.

Ephesians 2: 11-22

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Mark 6: 30-34 and 53-56
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Homily:
We left the disciples two weeks ago being sent out as the first Christian missionaries. Like missionaries throughout history and today, they went out of love for God whom they served, prepared to live very simple lives and wear simple clothes because the emphasis was not on who they were but on who God is. So, I imagine the disciples returning from the mission field where they have healed the sick and driven out demons and told everyone they met about Jesus. It seems to have been a very successful time and they clearly had learnt well from being with their Master. It’s a good test of how good the teacher is when the students succeed in the task they have been given.

Jesus wants to know more, however, and to take them all away from the crowds which are constantly pressing in on them. I expect he wanted to ask more questions and help to develop their thinking and how they would go about the next time they were away by themselves. Maybe he wanted to help the more successful to work with those who were less able and more self-conscious. He obviously had in mind that an extended period of peace and quiet would help them to assimilate what they had learnt and give them time for reflection.

Unfortunately, everywhere they went they ran into crowds of people. The healings of Jairus’ daughter, which we looked at two weeks ago, and the woman with the issue of blood are just two examples of the powerful effect that Jesus’ ministry had on those who met him. There was no escape. By the time they had crossed the lake, the people had walked around the top end and were there to meet them.

Sometimes in our lives it feels like everyone wants a piece of us. Babies and young families are by their very nature all- consuming as we spend time caring for all their needs. Obviously, they need parents or carers who can provide for their physical needs but these days we know a lot about the emotional and mental health needs of small children. And if we are Christians, we want to teach them spiritual truths and draw them into our faith in God. It’s a tall order most of the time. Then as the family gets older we find that they do not take up any less of our time. We drive them to this and that. We sit them down to discuss the decisions they are making in their lives. We teach them the skills they will need to survive and we put them together when someone breaks their heart.

These days they need practical help and support to get through further education and to set up in their own homes. And when it goes wrong they move back home.

As well as family busyness, we often hold down extremely busy jobs at the same time and in retirement, take on responsibilities in Church or within our hobbies and interests.

Of course, many people find all the stress that this can sometimes cause overwhelming and sometimes they have to take time out to rest. There’s the annual holiday for example, which unfortunately this year is mostly in the UK and will need patience to queue and share space with everyone else who is in the same resort as us.

Jesus was introducing an aspect to life which the disciples were not used to. The Jewish sabbath was the time every week when they rested from work and were only allowed to travel very short distances and work on small specific things. Jesus was trying to establish something different: deliberate spaces to evaluate what they were doing and for prayer and discerning God’s will for their lives.

I think that in these days of rush and too much pressure it is really important to take space and time. You remember a week or two ago, I asked us all to be quiet from 10.25 to 10.30 after we arrive in church for the service. That’s a time for us to move away from what has been happening in our lives immediately before so that we can concentrate on what God has to say to us this morning.

I had a telephone conversation with someone on Thursday and I told them that I generally work here in Wayland at the beginning of the week: Sunday (obviously), Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Now I know if I say that too much I will get the reputation of not doing very much and the person concerned was quite quick in telling me that they were self-employed and never took a day off. I’m a 24/7 priest. I am always a priest. It’s who and what I am. But my role here is that I am the Interim Minister of 6 churches, that’s a job and I do that job 4 days a week. Emergencies aside, where I will act out of being a 24/7 priest and visit you or baptize your baby or do anything else you need, the other three days of the week are for me to be a priest in other ways like mentoring and listening and also by spending more time in prayer or reflection in order to be the priest God wants me to be.

It’s the same for all of us. We earn money, we shop, we work for the Church, we play golf, we spend time with our families and all that takes up a certain amount of time. We are also 24/7 Christians and as such we need time alone with God to reflect of what He wants us to do with our lives. Our relationship with God should be developing just like our relationship with our family members and friends develops. Sometimes we need to be firm with those who want to take us over (not always intentionally) because we all need to take space to chew things and see what they mean. God speaks to us as we spend time reading our Bibles and praying. Its rest for our souls and preparation for what life will bring us next.

Intercessions:
Our God is always ready to listen.
Let us pray to him now.

Father, continue to pour out your gifts on the Church,
so that many may be saved
and our faith may grow strong
and bear much fruit.
We pray for our Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops as they lead the church in this Diocese. We pray for this church and parish and for all the churches in the Wayland Group, for our serving and mission to all areas of the Benefice.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer

Look with mercy on the conflicts of the world;
realign our values and goals
until they are in line with your will,
and our laws and expectations reflect your justice and love.
We pray for all leaders in the world and in this nation whether they be political leaders or those in authority in education, technology, the arts or the medical professions. We pray for those forced to leave their homes by ruthless regimes or unjust laws. For those who have unfair advantage over their employees.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Bless our homes and families
and all our neighbours and friends;
train us to listen to one another with full attention,
and recognize one another’s gifts.
We pray for peace and mutual understanding and an awareness of the difficulties we face just trying to live our lives.
We pray for Julian and Diana being married here on 31st and Ellis who was baptized here yesterday.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Encourage the hesitant, curb the overpowering,
heal the sick, refresh the exhausted,
soften the hardened hearts,
open the eyes of the complacent,
and comfort all who are sad. Particularly today we pray for …..
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Welcome into your eternity
all those who have died in faith especially Roy Lewis Cooper whose funeral took place this past week and Olga Robinson whose funeral will take place next week.
may we in our turn share with them
the joy of living with you for ever.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Thank you, Lord our God
for the hope you have given us through Christ,
which enables us to enjoy living in eternity
even while we still journey here.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Lord God, whose Son is the true vine and the source of life,
ever giving himself that the world may live:
may we so receive within ourselves the power of his death and passion
that, in his saving cup, we may share his glory and be made perfect in his love;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

6th Sunday after Trinity

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 09:23:24 GMT

6th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting :
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 6th Sunday after Trinity
Merciful God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as pass our understanding:
pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we, loving you in all things and above all things,
may obtain your promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.
12 Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

Ephesians 1:3-14:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Mark 4: 14-29:
14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” 17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Homily:
The passage we have just read from Mark’s gospel sits between where we left off last week with the disciples sent out on their first mission and our reading for next week which will be them returning full of news of what they have been doing.

Today’s reading is not exactly one to read before lunch. You would not think that handing the King someone’s head on a plate would necessarily make the birthday party go with a swing. Herod the Great was the King when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He was the one responsible for trying to get the wise men to tell him where Jesus was born and then ordering the death of all the baby boys under two years old when the wise men failed to return to tell him. So, he was not exactly a paragon of virtue. He was married 5 times and during the latter part of his life, he became even more paranoid about threats to the throne and he systematically killed off quite a few of his close relatives. One of his sons was named Herod Philip and he married the Herodias of our passage today. Another son was called Herod Antipas and he is the Herod we are reading about today. He seduced Herodias and lured her away from her husband and married her. So complicated were all the relationships around these people that Herodias was at the same time his niece and his sister-in-law!

The relationship between Herod and John the Baptist was interesting because Herod appeared to both fear him and to respect him. John spoke out publicly about Herod’s lack of morals and so Herod had John put in prison. He obviously thought that he had successfully silenced John and put him where he could no longer bother him and he could just get on with his life. Herodias, however, was much more openly angry that John had dared to criticize them and she looked for an opportunity to kill John.
She eventually got that opportunity at Herod’s birthday party when Herod further disgraced himself. In front of everyone, he boasted that he would give up to half of his kingdom as a reward to Herodias’ daughter who was dancing for his guests. You can imagine, he was probably quite drunk and wanted to show off in front of his friends. Unfortunately for Herod, however, things took a turn for the worse and he found himself having to agree to John being killed and his head being served up on a platter. He had made a promise and his sense of who he was would not allow him to go back on it.

We have seen in recent weeks and months the way that those in public office in our own country can find themselves tripped up by things in their personal lives. We have heard of government ministers breaking lockdown rules which in turn have led to marriage breakdowns and a rise in peoples’ lack of trust in them. People rightly feel that the rules apply to everyone equally and we have seen leaders being called upon to explain their actions and resign their office. Even though, if we were to take a poll, we would probably find that the man in the street’s ideas of morality are nothing like they would have been even a few years ago, we all expect those who lead us to be moral and upright. It is always a scandal to find out in the tabloids that some high-ranking politician has what the papers call “a love-child”. There is always money to be made for the spurned wife who will tell all to the nation. Whether Prince Charles and Princess Diana had affairs and who they had them with still sells newspapers.

I find this a strange gospel passage. We have just heard the words: “This is the Gospel of the Lord” at the end of the reading. But the passage is not about Jesus, apart from some discussion at the beginning about whether he is John risen from the dead. The word “gospel” comes from a Greek word meaning “Good News” and as I have already intimated the news in this reading does not seem to be that good, particularly as far as John the Baptist was concerned. But I think that it actually is about the truth of gospel: the good news of the Kingdom which Jesus brought in. John gives us an example of what being a follower of Jesus means when he spoke out about Herod’s immoral life. Jesus always spoke out about injustice and the abuses of too much legalism in religion. He was always to be found with those who were outcast from society. He visited and ate with tax collectors who were hated by everyone. He spoke to and ministered to women and lepers who no one wanted to be close to. Several of his disciples were fishermen: one of the most lowly jobs of the time. When a woman was about to be stoned, accused of adultery, Jesus went to her defense and challenged her accusers because he always helped those he met to turn their lives around and move to a better future. This was very different to Herod merely casting his wives aside and being a very public figure with a disastrous private life. Jesus brought in a Kingdom of love for others.

Sometimes as followers of Jesus we will need to show people a different, more wholesome, way of living by who we are and how we choose to live. Like John sometimes this will mean that we have to suffer. Our world is becoming more unequal as time goes on. Most of us now have had two doses of the corona virus vaccine. Some countries cannot afford to buy enough for everyone and are dependent on the good will of others. Since the murder of George Floyd a year ago, opinions on racism have become much more polarized. Since Brexit, violence against people from other nationalities has increased and become more widespread. Some of this is very controversial, I know, and we will not all have the same views, but as followers of Jesus we must pray for the right solutions of love to be found and be prepared to act where we can alleviate suffering. John the Baptist and Jesus were men of their time and culture and they spoke out when they saw the need. They give us an example to follow.

Intercessions :
Gracious God, fountain of all wisdom,
we pray for all Christian people;
for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops,
and for all who teach and guard the faith.
May the word of Christ dwell richly in our hearts,
and knit us together in the bond of your love.
Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for the leaders of the nations,
And for those in authority under them.
We pray for this nation, for Elizabeth our Queen and the members of the Royal Family.
And for all leaders of government at national and local level.
Give them the gift of your wisdom,
and a right discerning in all things.
Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for this church of the Holy Cross, for this village and for the Wayland Benefice.
For those who live, work and visit here,
and especially at this time for those whose task it is to appoint a new Incumbent to this Benefice.
We pray for all who seek the common good.
Speak your word of peace in our midst,
And help us to serve one another as Christ has served us.
Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer

We pray for those who do not believe,
And for those of hesitant belief.
Open their ears to hear your voice,
and open their hearts to receive you, the very Word of Life.
Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We pray for those bowed down with grief, fear or sickness, especially today for ………
May Christ your living Word bring them comfort and healing.
Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who have died in the faith of Christ, particularly for: Dirk Bouwen, Violet Syer, Olga Robinson and Roy Lewis Cooper who have died recently.
And we rejoice with all your saints,
trusting in the promise of your word fulfilled.
Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.

Lord of the Church,
hear our prayer,
and make us one in heart and mind
to serve you with joy forever.

Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
God of our pilgrimage
you have led us to the living water;
refresh and sustain us
as we go forward on our journey,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

5th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 21:12:35 GMT

5th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 5th Sunday after Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:
2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” 3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

2 Corinthians 12:2-10:

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Mark 6:1-13:
Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Homily:
Let me gauge my audience (although, if you are on-line, I won’t know how you respond)! How many of you watched the England/Germany match on Tuesday evening? How many of you are watching Wimbledon? For me, this year’s football will never top the 1966 World Cup Final when England won against Germany. I watched that match with my Dad. When I was small, we watched every kind of sport and in the early days it was on a black and white TV. My Dad didn’t trust colour television for a long time and snooker in particular needed quite a lot of concentration to follow balls in different shades of grey around a grey table. Dad always knew where each one was. These days, long after his death, I don’t get too enthusiastic about most sports. However, when the football was on: I was watching the whole nine series of The Sewing Bee on catch up.

Whatever you want to excel at, however, requires a lot of time and discipline. Whether you are a musician, a sportsman, a sew-er, a photographer or a priest.

For any career these days it seems that training is far more detailed and long lasting that it used to be and in order to keep ahead of whatever game we choose to be in, we have to keep practicing our skills and honing our techniques. In the football and tennis we see people at the top of their careers straining for the next cup or medal.

Today’s gospel passage carries on from last week’s where Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the issue of blood. The distance is around 20 miles from Capernaum where the healings would have taken place to Nazareth where Jesus was brought up. I suppose it may have been that they knew they could find places to stay in Nazareth with Jesus’ family. They were there on the Sabbath day and as the good Jews they were, they went to the Synagogue to worship. As I was saying last week, itinerant Rabbis who dropped into the Synagogues were often asked to preach the sermon. On this occasion Jesus does just that.

Jesus was 30 years old when he started his ministry. People have wondered why it was so late in his life. Some commentators have wondered whether it was because Joseph had died some time before and Jesus needed to be the man of the family until they were grown up. However it happened, he would have had many years to hone his teaching and healing ministry in prayer and attendance at the Synagogue in Nazareth.

Going back to my 9 series of the Sewing Bee. Do you remember last year’s series when a young woman who for her day job was a lung cancer consultant won? When the commentator interviewed her Mum just before the final, amidst all the obvious pride she had in her daughter, it was clear she had not realized that she was an expert sewer and when she heard that she was on The Sewing Bee, she admitted to being surprised and not really expecting her to win. Sometimes, our families and close friends are the ones who don’t really see our ability and the people we really are. Jesus’ family were “astounded” it says at the way he taught them and the fact that he was able to heal people.

There is no doubt that as we go through life, some people will reject who we are and what we have to offer them. You may have experienced, in your working or social lives, times when people have been antagonistic for no apparent reason or jealous of what you had or could do, or just seemed not to like you very much. Rejection can sometimes feel so final that we have to move on from the situation before it damages us. Jesus failed to do very much more healing in his hometown. The pressure on him to just be the carpenter’s son and not anyone special was too great to allow him to do what God had called him to do. In my first stint as a minister in a church near Heathrow, the fact that I was a woman, and ordained and young, meant that many people rejected any suggestions I had to make. Eventually when the rejection had been too much for too long, I left. Although I knew that my ministry had had some successes, mainly amongst children and families, it felt like a failure and in the words of today’s gospel: I could do no good there.

As well as rejection and failure Jesus met indifference in Nazareth. People who were not interested in what he had to offer. “Is not this, the carpenter, the son of Mary …” Oh, we know him, what could he have to say to us?

Many people these days are indifferent to the fact that we believe in God and attend church. There is apparently more interest in spiritual things these days than at any time in recent history. People study the stars and read their horoscopes. They attend spiritualist meetings and practice mindfulness techniques. Many people admit to praying but don’t have a clue who they are praying to. When we have weddings, baptisms and funerals in church people are able to express what they are feeling and why they want a church service, but don’t do that in the churchy words which we have been brought up to use. They talk about the peace in the church building and knowing “something is there”. There is also a need to be close to departed relatives: often they say, “My Nan got married here”.

After Jesus leaves his hometown, we see him sending out his disciples to spread the word and heal the sick. Failure, rejection and indifference will still be a part of their mission but when that happens, they are to shake off the dust from their feet and move on. That’s because all we do; we do it in the name of God and he will deal with those situations which we find too much. Those things we see as failure, God can turn round and turn into success. We will never know in many instances what we said or what we did which made the difference between someone coming to faith or staying, rejecting or indifferent. Ours is not to know, ours is to continue loving whomever we are given to love.

Intercessions:

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
you promised through your Son, Jesus Christ
to hear us when we pray in faith.

We pray for your Church worldwide, particularly in areas where it faces persecution, and for the Church here in Breckles and all it does to serve and promote your mission. We pray for all the churches in this Benefice, for the churchwardens and members of the PCCs.

Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ, that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,

live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who hold positions of authority in national and local government and for all managers and leaders of businesses and in the professions. We pray for our Royal Family:
Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority,
and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace;
that we may honour one another and seek the common good.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for these villages and for our witness through our prayers and deeds to all who live within them. For the children and all who work in our schools and for the residents and staff of Thorpe House.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,
that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all those in physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual need and for those who continue to suffer as a result of Covid-19. For those who never ask for the help they need. For all agencies working to alleviate suffering.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, especially …..
give them courage and hope in their troubles;
and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ, especially Violet Syer, Olga Robinson, Roy Lewis Cooper, and Dirk Bouwen. We ask you to be close to their families and friends as they mourn.
According to your promises,
grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints,
We commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Grant, O Lord, we beseech you,
that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by your governance,
that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

4th Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 21:37:01 GMT

4th Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 4th Sunday after Trinity
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

2 Samuel 1: 1 and 17-27

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 17 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

19 “A gazelle lies slain on your heights, Israel.
    How the mighty have fallen!
20 “Tell it not in Gath,
    proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad,
    lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.
21 “Mountains of Gilboa,
    may you have neither dew nor rain,
    may no showers fall on your terraced fields.
For there the shield of the mighty was despised,
    the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the slain,
    from the flesh of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
    the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
23 Saul and Jonathan—
    in life they were loved and admired,
    and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,
    they were stronger than lions.
24 “Daughters of Israel,
    weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and finery,
    who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!
    Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
    you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
    more wonderful than that of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen!
    The weapons of war have perished!”

2 Corinthians 8: 7-24

7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” 16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

Mark 5: 21-43

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this and told them to give her something to eat.

Homily:

Do people interest you?

A week or two ago I bought the DVD “The Lady in the Van” which, if you don’t know, is the film version of Alan Bennett’s play about a Miss Shepherd. It is the true story of a very eccentric old lady who lived in a van and managed to weedle her way into parking it on Alan’s drive; she said it was for a couple of weeks but she stayed for 15 years. I had a field day! Not only did I start to research Alan Bennett and Maggie Smith, who played the lady in the van (I love everything she acts in) I also researched Miss Shepherd herself and Alex Jennings, the actor who played Alan Bennett in the film. I love to discover what these people are like, who they are married to and what else they have been involved in. I analyse their characters and the characters they play. I want to know who they are when they are at home in their slippers. It’s great.

Today, in our gospel reading we meet three main characters not counting Jesus and his disciples. We have Jairus: the leader of the synagogue, his 12 year old daughter who is seriously ill and a woman who has had an haemorrhage for 12 years. So, if you are like me, you will want to find out more so that these characters come to life.

Jairus was the administrative head of the synagogue in Capernaum. So, he was a very important man. A religious man, a Jew. He was the President of the board of Elders who were responsible for the good management of the synagogue. He was also responsible for the conduct of the services. He did not usually take part in them himself but he was responsible for the allocation of duties and for seeing that they were carried out with all seemliness and good order. He was a bit like a church warden. We are told in the Gospels that Jesus was often invited to speak in the synagogues. There wasn’t a regular preacher. If someone turned up for the service, like Jesus who was a travelling Rabbi, he would be invited to speak. And, as we know, in Jesus’ case, that did not go down too well because he spoke out against the injustices and legalism of the faith. Jesus was once taken out of the synagogue and almost stoned to death. They just did not like what he had to say. On this occasion, however, Jairus was prepared to put aside the prejudice he must have had about Jesus and his pride and dignity in his status in the synagogue. His only daughter was seriously ill and somehow he knew that this annoying rabbi was the person he needed to help her. Consequently, he fell at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with him to heal her. There was no restraint and wondering about it.

We know very little about the daughter: our second character, except that she was 12 years old. Why is that important? 12 was the age of maturity in the Jewish faith. A Bar mitzvah was the ceremony when a boy of around 12 took on all the adult responsibilities of the faith. He became a grown-up. A Bat mitzvah was when a girl of 12 did the same. This girl was on the threshold of womanhood and all her parents’ hopes would have been pinned on her. Jairus was looking at so much loss of potential and his hopes and prayers for the future as it became clear that the child was dying.

Then we have our third character. She doesn’t have a name either and we know very little about her. But what we do know tells us so much about her life. She was a complete outcast so far as Jewish society was concerned. Her complaint was apparently quite common. The Jewish book of law gives not one but eleven cures for the bleeding: from carrying the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen bag in summer to carrying a barley corn which had been found in the dung of a white she-ass. The woman had tried everything and lost all of her money in the process. She was not allowed to be near anyone else. The Jews were not allowed to touch someone who was bleeding in this way. She had been alone for 12 years. She may have been married but no man could stay with her. She had to live alone.

Her approach to Jesus was much more subdued. She did not rush over and fall at his feet pleading for healing. Her faith was not any the less, however. She told herself that if she could only touch one of the tassels of his robe, she would be cured. She was extremely brave. This woman who was not allowed out in public and could not touch anyone wove her way into the centre of a crowd of people and touched Jesus.

However we approach Jesus in prayer for our needs, he knows about it and he answers our prayers. All three of our characters today received what they most wanted. There will be times when we plead for help as we pray. We will get down on our knees and beg for an answer. At those times we are confident and we don’t mind who knows about our needs and sees or hears us. Other times, we find it hard to be brave and we tentatively tell him what we need. We may be ashamed or afraid of what others might say if we say it out loud or if we tell too many people.

So, who do you identify with today? Are you usually confident in who you are and who God is for you? Or are you someone who sometimes feels more self-conscious, maybe feels like you have been overlooked in some part of your life or treated like you don’t fit in? You may feel less secure in the way you approach Jesus in prayer but you still know that he is the answer to your needs.

Jesus came for everyone: the religious, the ones who lack confidence and the outcasts. He cares for everyone equally.

Intercessions:

Holy God, you have called us to meet and pray together.

We pray for those called to lay and ordained ministry in our Church and for those at present testing their vocation. We pray, particularly at this Petertide, for all those being ordained as Deacons and Priests. We pray for those within our own diocese who were ordained yesterday and being ordained today, particularly for Adam and Tori being ordained as Deacons to serve as curates at the Fountain of Life and Swaffham in this Deanery.

We pray for Graham, Alan and Jane our Bishops, for the church here in Thompson and for all the churches in this Benefice that you would help us to serve you in every person and situation we meet.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those called to serve you in positions of authority and influence within our world, that all may work for the common good, not for selfish ambition. We pray for Elizabeth our Queen, our Prime Minister and for all who serve in government both at local and national level. For these villages and all who live and work within them. For our schools and the residents and staff at Thorp House.

That all would see true greatness as service and true strength as humility.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those called to marriage, and those called to the single life, for those couples preparing for their weddings in these churches in the near future. For parents and grandparents, sons and daughters, for acceptance of what we cannot change and strength to live the Christian life in our present situation. We pray for Pippa to be baptized in Griston on 22nd August: for her parents and godparents as they prepare for that day.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose lives are full of disappointment, disillusion and discontent, for all those who struggle with great perseverance in difficult circumstances. For those whose lives have been changed by Covid-19 and by lockdowns.

We pray for your strength, encouragement and direction. Especially we pray for …..

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those called, through death, into eternal life and freedom from all their pain and suffering. Receive them with mercy and welcome them into your kingdom.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We thank you , Holy God, for your promise that where two or three are gathered in your name you will grant their requests.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into o
ne body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you .

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Eternal God,
comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken,
you have fed us at the table of life and hope:
teach us the ways of gentleness and peace,
that all the world may acknowledge
the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

3rd Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 20:17:12 GMT

3rd Sunday after Trinity

Readings:

1 Samuel 17:32-49

32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.” 38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

2 Corinthians 6: 1-13

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favour I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Mark 4: 35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Homily:

It was in October 2018 that I visited the Holy Land to see for myself some of the places where Jesus lived and ministered. One of the most precious memories I have is of an afternoon spent crossing the Sea of Galilee. The Sea is actually a lake and it is around 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. The journey under normal circumstances takes around two hours. At one point in the journey, in order to give all of us tourists and pilgrims the ultimate experience, the skipper cuts the engine and the boat bobs around on the lake. Those travelling may have been chatting about this and that up to this point but gradually we all became silent as we took in the amazing views of the Golan heights and the town of Capernaum not that far away. We must have sat for an hour. The silence was at times overpowering as we no doubt all began to think about all the sights we had seen to that point and also began to take in what it must have been like as Jesus and his friends set sail for the other side.

It had been a hard day for them, particularly for Jesus and he asked them to cross the lake in order to have time for himself before the next huge crowd caught up with them and needed everything he had to give them.
So, God Himself is sitting in the stern of the boat where there was a cushion and a makeshift cover to keep out the cold. In the next few weeks, our Gospel readings follow the Gospel of Mark as we see Jesus performing miracles and driving out demons. All is well. All is peaceful. Jesus falls asleep; the human Jesus is exhausted and needs to catch some rest urgently. I wonder what the disciples were doing? Maybe asking questions of one another about the day’s teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. Maybe just rowing silently, lost in their own thoughts.

The Sea of Galilee was and still is notorious for its storms. They come out of the blue as winds rush down from the mountains, through a narrow space and then across the lake, churning up the water and bringing torrential rain, thunder and lightning. No seasoned fisherman such as Peter, Andrew, James and John would have set out if they had had warning that a storm was brewing. But suddenly, they were in the midst of it. They tried their best to steer the boat to safety before the fear that they were going to lose their lives gripped them and they turned to Jesus, still asleep in the stern. “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?” they said. Maybe one of them shook him awake.

I wonder how many of us have heard people say things like: “Where was God when that happened to me?” How can he be a God of love when he lets wars and famines happen? Maybe in the last year: “How can there be a God when thousands have died and are dying from Covid-19? It’s the age-old problem of suffering and its not easy to answer.
Jesus may have been asleep in the stern of the boat, however, but God never sleeps.
Psalm 46:11 says: “The Lord Almighty is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge”

Maybe we can learn something from the disciples. The first thing we can learn is that they did not get everything right. Jesus often had to tell them off for not having sufficient faith. We are in good company when we don’t know what to do.

This was a desperate situation. Without intervention they would probably have all drowned. God of course could have performed the miracle of stilling the storm without any intervention from the disciples. After all, he was not going to let his son die in the Sea of Galilee because he needed to die on a Cross in Jerusalem. That was the plan. So, we have to think that He was waiting for the disciples to cry for help. If as the Psalmist says: God is our refuge, he needs us to cry out to Him when we need help.
It’s not like the insurance policy kind of prayer. Their child is ill, so they make a bargain with the God they never normally talk to. “If my son gets better, I will go to Church every week and never doubt you again”. It’s a good start though because God loves his children to talk to him but, more than that, he wants his children to be in an on-going, daily relationship with him where we talk through everything which is happening in our lives and ask for help. Sometimes we will have an urgency about that. Folks who are about to drown will not approach Jesus tentatively and quietly. I like to think they would have shook him awake.

Jesus’ words to the storm are interesting too. He says to the waves: “Quiet! Be still!” The commentators say that the Greek words and grammar used here are like that of the owner telling a pet dog to behave itself. The human Jesus asleep in the boat is also God: Almighty and Powerful, who can tell the fiercest storm to behave itself. And it did. They sailed into port with no more trouble. God can intervene in whatever troubles us. When we ask for help, we unleash all the powers of Heaven on our situations. And we don’t know where that will lead. The speed and efficiency of human beings finding and developing a vaccine which will eventually keep this virus under control shows the power of God to control nature in this age. I’m sure many of us can think of occasions when we don’t know why we have acted in a certain way but if we hadn’t, our lives would not have turned out as they did.

God is a God of miracles and power in every age and in every place. He calls us to be in relationship with him.

Intercessions:

Lord of all truth and goodness,
we pray for all those in positions of authority
in the Church all over the world
and in each gathered community, praying within our own diocese for our Bishops Graham and Alan and Archdeacon Jane;
that in all the storms
we may be enabled to hear God’s calming voice
and deepen our trust in him.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Lord of great power and majesty,
we pray for those with political and military power,
and all whose decisions affect many lives, praying for all involved in both local and national government in their decision-making at this time about when to allow more freedom from Covid restrictions. .
Speak truth into motives, honour into actions
and your vision of peace into every conflict.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, we pray for all single people, couples and families,
as they weather their own storms and learn from them.
We pray for all who live and work within this village and the ministry and service of this church. We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House.
We pray for our Benefice and for those whose task it is to appoint a new incumbent.
Lavish on all who have the care of others
the capacity to bring peace and calm fears.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

Lord of all healing, we pray for those
whose minds and hearts are in turmoil,
whose lives lurch from crisis to crisis,
for those who find their lives shattered
by illness or injury; We pray today for …….
For peace in those threatening storms
and a settling of all anxiety
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Lord of eternity, we thank you
for your reassurance of life beyond physical death,
we pray for those who are dying alone,
unnoticed or unprepared;
We commend those who have died
to God’s merciful forgiveness and eternal peace.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

Second Sunday after Trinity

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 16:08:37 GMT

Second Sunday after Trinity

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit . Amen

The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our lord. Amen.

The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen

The Collect – 2nd Sunday after Trinity
Lord, you have taught us
that all our doings without love are nothing worth:
send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.
Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the H oly Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

1 Samuel:15:34-16:13

34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

16 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the

things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

2 Corinthians 5: 6-10, 14-17

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Mark 4: 26-34

26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” 30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Homily:

Jesus was the Master Story-teller. In today’s Gospel, we read of Him talking about one of His favourite subjects: The Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God. Jesus talked about it a lot and compared it to many things. Today, he is comparing it to a mustard seed which starts off as the smallest seed and given the right conditions grows into the tallest of trees for the birds to nest in.

When I was a child, it really was in the last century! We used to grow mustard seeds on bits of blotting paper. Everyone in church will know what blotting paper is but there may be people reading this on-line who do not know. You needed blotting paper when you wrote with messy ink pens. Some of you on-line may not remember messy pens and ink either. Anyway, the experiment with the mustard seeds was to see what things were needed to make seeds grow. So, we put the tiny seeds on the wet blotting paper and with the water, light and heat, they soon grew and we could eat them with our salad or on a sandwich. How easy it was! If we were really keen to learn, we could also set up controls where we used dry blotting paper or left the seeds in the dark or in the fridge. And then we got spindly plants which died before we got chance to eat them.

Now, I know that I am talking to farmers and some really keen gardeners here. I know from my very amateur attempts with seeds and plants that it seems like one day there is nothing or very little to see for your work and then, there may have been some well-timed sunshine or a necessary shower of rain and suddenly the plants grow and the flowers start to burst into bloom. The Kingdom of God is like that.

Since the beginning of this year, I have been doing some small pieces of writing for St Mary’s Church in Watton. I wrote the final reflection they put out at the end of May. As the time went on, it got harder to think about what I should write about each month, sometimes twice a month. For the final one, I had been reading a short book about gratitude and simply spending time before bed telling God what I was grateful for from the day and what I was least grateful for. It came out as quite an average piece of writing, which I sent off and then forgot about. A few days ago, I received an email from St Mary’s enclosing another email from someone the other side of the world who happens to be part of the St Mary’s family. This person had read the reflection and found it both a simple but reassuring way of thinking of God’s love for us. Then she had become ill and was unable to take a service she was booked for. That evening she used the reflection to pray before bed and to remember with thanksgiving all the people in her church. What started very small in my office brought God’s Kingdom closer to a Minister and her people on the other side of the world.

Our acts of love and service may seem very small and insignificant to us but they have potential to grow the Kingdom in this Benefice. Every time we do something for someone else, we sow a seed. We may never see the growth of that seed, but we are called to sow it, nevertheless. In our Epistle, Paul talks a lot about being “in the body” versus “in the Spirit”. This is about the daily battle which goes on within us about whether we will be people who behave: “in the body” or “in the Spirit”. The body actions are ones where we give in to the temptations to be greedy or selfish or to ignore the need that we see. The Spirit actions are the ones where we show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the fruits of the Spirit we find in another of Paul’s letters: to the Galatians.

There are two aspects of the Kingdom of God that Jesus talks about: the theologians call them the “now and the not yet”. We became members of God’s Kingdom when we were baptized: for most of us as babies. When we see little babies, we see the mustard seed of potential for their lives. We wonder what they will look like when they grow up, what gifts they will develop, what they will do with their lives. We pray for their health and their well-being. When we were born, God saw the potential in each one of us for good in His Kingdom. So, as followers of him, we try to sow the seeds which will attract more people to the Kingdom every day. After this life, of course, we will see the fullness of God’s Kingdom when we go to be with him. So, the Kingdom is both now but not yet.

Mother Teresa was a Catholic sister who lived for most of her life with the poor of Calcutta. She was still tending to their needs when she died at the age of 87. She managed homes for people dying of HIV/AIDs, leprosy and TB. She opened hospices to care for the dying and for many years just walked the streets tending to the needs of those lying there in pain. By 1996 she had set up 517 missions in over 100 countries. Often times she and the other sisters were starving but she never gave up. Her mission to the poor started one day with an idea, a tiny seed of love and her faith in God grew the tiny seed into an amazing ministry. The tiny seed grew other tiny seeds until the world was changed.

So, let’s all take our seeds of love and see where we can sow them this week and how big they will grow for God’s Kingdom.

Intercessions:
Let us pray to the God of heaven and earth for the growth of the kingdom

May the Kingdom grow
in clusters of Christians all over the world;
may it grow as hearts are warmed
by encounter with the living God;
nourished by word and sacrament,
private prayer and public worship.
We pray for the Anglican Communion and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops.
And for the church in this diocese: for Graham and Alan our Bishops and Archdeacon Jane to be consecrated Bishop of Lynn on 23rd of this month.
We pray for the church here in Great Hockham and for our Benefice.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

May the Kingdom grow
in the crowded streets of cities and towns
and in the scattered rural communities;
in all decision-making and all spending.
We pray for our nation and for decisions being made about the further relaxing of Covid restrictions.
For all those who still suffer the effects of the virus, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

May the Kingdom grow
in every home,
every place of work and education,
in each conversation and
in our mutual care of one another.
We pray for our witness to our neighbours and friends and for every home in these villages.
For the relationships between parents and children and for all our day to day responsibilities that we may do all things in the name and for the sake of Christ.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

May the Kingdom grow
to bring peace and healing
wherever there is pain or sadness
to bring reassurance, comfort, courage and hope.
We pray today for …….
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

In the knowledge that we must all face judgement,
we pray for those who have died,
thanking God for his loving mercy,
and entrusting our loved ones
to God’s safe keeping.
We pray particularly for the family and friends of Maurice Humphries.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

As we thank God for all his blessings to us
We offer him the rest of our lives.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Loving Father,
we thank you for feeding us at the supper of your Son:
sustain us with your Spirit,
that we may serve you here on earth
until our joy is complete in heaven,
and we share in the eternal banquet
with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen

1st Sunday after Trinity: 6th June 2021

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 09:12:06 GMT

1st Sunday after Trinity: 6th June 2021

1 Samuel 8: 4-11 and 16-20

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.

16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

Mark 3: 20-35

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother and brother”

Homily by Revd Adrian Bell:

This year not only will have finished well over 4 years helping you in the Wayland Group, but later in June I will celebrate 50 years since I was ordained. Where the time has gone in both cases, I really don’t know. Marian and I would like to thank you all for your love and support and no doubt we will keep in touch and see you from time to time. I leave the Group of Parishes in Joy’s very capable hands until the Diocese decides when an incumbent is to be appointed. It has only taken 5 years to make a decision. The church does not act quickly.

At the centre of the reading from the Gospel today is the importance of unity in Jesus’ ministry and today. But also, the understanding of evil. Throughout its history those who criticise the church have often been called evil.

Even today, there is no doubt that in my mind the Church authorities do not like those who stand out and say what they really believe.

As Joy told us last week in her Trinity Sunday sermon, St Patrick had a very influential affect upon Christianity in Ireland but also in this country. He is certainly in the top tier of saints.

If was I going to list the Christians in history that affected my faith I would start with St Francis my personal patron saint since a child, and St Augustine of Canterbury, then go on to Martin Luther and finally C S Lewis. We often think of C.S Lewis writing children’s novels but in my early years his Christian books really affected my faith as I went to sixth firm conferences at Oxford and Cambridge Universities for those interested in the ministry. We often purchased his books. C S Lewis is still worth reading.

Jesus knew that whatever he said would be opposed by some and he had learnt from the dreadful experience of the temptation in the wilderness that he would always be questioned. Here in the Gospel he is accused of being mad or possessing evil. We know only too well that often those who questioned authorities are seen to be mad or misguided. But even with all this criticism Jesus kept going and kept firm to the faith and so should we.

But also in this reading we see Jesus’ family hovering around and wondering what is happening. There is no doubt that the call to the priesthood is demanding. In the Roman Catholic Church a priest will actually say ‘goodbye’ to his parents at the ordination because his family is now the church. In the Anglican Church we don’t quite go that far but there is no doubt that from a very early stage and throughout your ministry you have two families and at times these do conflict.

But I must also stress the importance of unity. Jesus at so many times in the Gospels and especially as he came to the end of his ministry, prayed for the unity for those who were to follow him. We know that a divided family or a divided church is easily destroyed.

What is remarkable about the Wayland Group is that not only have we managed to come through these years since Father Bob left and also more recently this dreadful pandemic, but that we have actually survived fairly well intact. However, I do believe that people are now looking for a change of direction and leadership and I am sure that Joy will be able to do this. I hope to keep in touch with her and I do thank her for her help.

So, this Sunday after Trinity gives us encouragement. We don’t need to look for devils everywhere, or disunity, or look for problems. Whoever you choose to be your next Vicar make sure that they see the glass half full – there is lots be thankful for in the church and a happy and united church welcomes people and people stay.

So, God bless you all.

Intercessions:
For the peace that comes from God alone,
for the unity of all peoples,
and for our salvation,
Lord, in your mercy.
Here our prayer.

For the Church of Christ, for Graham and Alan our Bishops and Archdeacon Jane, soon to be Bishop of Lynn,
and for the whole people of God throughout the Anglican Communion.

For Nettle Jane Childerhouse, to be baptized after this service.

For Adrian and Marian, leaving us today that the Lord will make very clear to them the next step in their discipleship and ministry . We thank God for these past four years and all we have shared together.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

For the nations of the world, particularly praying for those where there is unrest and suffering
For Elizabeth our Queen and for all in authority,
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

For this village of Caston and all the churches in this Benefice: for our neighbours and our friends.
For our schools, farms and other places of work.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

For the good earth which God has given us,
And for the wisdom and will to conserve it,
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

For the aged and infirm,
For the widowed and orphans,
For the sick and suffering.
We pray for all the residents and staff at Thorp House and for all those being cared for in their own homes.
For …..
And for anyone else in need,
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

For the dying, for those who mourn,
for the faithful whom we entrust to the Lord in hope,
as we look forward to the day when we share
the fullness of the resurrection,
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace:
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer:
Eternal Father,
we thank you for nourishing us
with these heavenly gifts:
may our communion strengthen us in faith,
build us up in hope,
and make us grow in love;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord …
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen